For the first time, the legendary coach was put on the ballot. Few will someday have his name etched in history in Springfield, Massachusetts.
No doubt in the world that Gonzaga’s Mark Few is one of the greatest coaches that the sport of basketball has ever seen. One of the smartest dealing with X’s and O’s as well. He put a small, private Jesuit university in little-known Spokane on the map and has changed the landscape of college basketball when it comes to non-conference scheduling, recruiting and dealing with the transfer portal.
He ranks as the winningest active NCAA Division I coach by winning percentage at 83.2 percent with an overall record of 724-146. The legend has also coached over 28 former Zags and counting to have played in the NBA.
Few will hear his name called by the Basketball Hall of Fame very, very soon. Finalists for the Class of 2025 will be announced on February 14th during the NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announces eligible candidates for the Class of 2025.
https://t.co/qAYBhHPn6K#25HoopClass pic.twitter.com/Cwj8Zqwz4f
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) December 19, 2024
Since taking over the head coaching reins for the Zags way back in 1999, Few has had accomplishment after accomplishment. Here are a few, no pun intended:
- 43-24 NCAA Tournament record/45-5 WCC Tournament record
- 22x regular season WCC titles (share included)
- 19x WCC Tournament titles
- 14x WCC Coach of the Year awards
- 2x Naismith Coach of the Year awards
- 2x National Championship finalists
- 6x Elite Eight appearances
- 14x Sweet 16 appearances
- 25 straight NCAA Tournament appearances
- 1x Olympic Gold medalist
Congrats on all the success but the job isn’t done. Few still needs to get that monkey off his back and bring home that coveted national championship.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho