Gonzaga's Mark Few named Coach of the Year

Friday, March 31, 2017

SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga men’s basketball Head Coach Mark Few was named the Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year Thursday.

The AP College Basketball Coach of the Year has been selected by a national panel of sports journalists who based their selections on outstanding coaching and leadership during the 2016-17 college basketball season.

“What an incredible honor. I mean, being in this business for 28 years, there are so many amazing coaches to get this award, especially from the writers who cover, and broadcasting people, who cover the sport, they get it. They understand just everything that goes into it,” Few said.

Few has guided the Zags to the program’s first-ever appearance in the Final Four with a 36-1 record. The 36 wins is a new program record for most victories in a single season. It marks the 10th straight season with at least 25 wins, and third 30-win season in program history. The Bulldogs earned the top-seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament and had its second number one ranking in program history this season.

Few credited his coaching staff and players.

“It truly takes a village to run a basketball program, and I’ve got the greatest village in the world with the coaches I have – Tommy Lloyd, Donny Daniels, Brian Michaelson, John Jakus, Ricky Fois – just an amazing group, and I can’t thank them enough,” he said. “Can’t thank the players enough. I mean the players are obviously what makes this all happen. And I am so blessed to be able to coach the group I have this year.”

He also thanked Gonzaga “for giving me the opportunity and supporting me and our staff and our players through all this. So thank you. This is really, really cool stuff.”

Few led GU to the program’s fifth consecutive West Coast Conference regular-season championship and its fifth straight WCC tournament championship. He was named WCC Coach of the Year for the 11th time.