A Vision Forged in Faith
Mark Few’s journey to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame began long before he ever set foot on a college court. Raised in Spokane, Washington, the son of a Methodist pastor, Few absorbed a world where faith and community were inseparable. That upbringing planted a conviction that would later guide his ambition for Gonzaga University’s basketball program.
After stints as a junior‑varsity coach and a brief period under Dan Monson at the University of Oregon, Few returned to his alma mater, where he would eventually replace Dan Fitzgerald as head coach. His early years were marked by modest successes, but a persistent belief in the program’s latent potential kept him moving forward.
A pivotal moment arrived when Few persuaded athletic director Mike Roth to invest in the vision he held for Gonzaga basketball. Together they launched a fundraising campaign, secured top talent, and gradually shifted the culture from a peripheral program to a national contender.
Near Misses and Persistent Growth
The Bulldogs’ ascent was punctuated by close calls at the NCAA championship, most notably in 2017 when the team fell just short of the title game, and again in 2021 during another deep tournament run. Each near‑miss reinforced the narrative of a program that refused to settle for anything less than excellence.
Through it all, Few’s leadership remained anchored in the same principles instilled by his father: hard work, dedication, and an unshakable faith in the process. The result was a program that, despite early struggles and occasional missteps, evolved into a perennial powerhouse.
Today, Few’s legacy is evident not only in the trophies and accolades but also in the enduring culture he cultivated at Gonzaga — a culture that continues to attract recruits, support staff, and fans who share his belief in the transformative power of basketball.