NCAA Basketball: Top 10 head coaches from past decade (2010-19)
By Joey Loose
5. Mark Few
When Few took over Gonzaga more than two decades ago, they were clearly a mid-major. Nowadays, this is a major conference program that resides in a power conference and Few’s impact over the last decade is a big part of that.
The sustained success that Few has orchestrated with the Bulldogs has been incredible. They’ve been at the top of the WCC nearly every season and won at least a single game in all ten NCAA Tournaments this decade. There isn’t a more significant rise to a program than what Few has accomplished at Gonzaga, though this was the decade he almost pushed them over the top.
His 2017 team was the highlight, making their way all the way to the national championship game before losing to North Carolina. Their 37-2 mark was impressive history and marked the program’s first Final Four run. With the talent that Few has brought to Spokane, this team is a threat to make the Final Four nearly every season, regardless of the conference they play in. Any coach averaging more than 30 wins per year is clearly doing something right.
It’s very easy to underestimate Few’s accomplishments because of the perceived weakness of the WCC, especially compared to the power conferences in college basketball. However, his teams upend these power teams on a regular basis and 2017’s finals run only punctuates the power this program has developed. With the talent and production that the Bulldogs possess, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Few’s teams be even more impressive in the coming decade.