NCAA Basketball: 5 coaches who deserve a lifetime deal like Bill Self’s at Kansas

Mark Few, Gonzaga

For all we know, Mark Few may already have a lifetime contract with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. He’s never shown much interest in leaving Spokane, transforming his team into the preeminent mid-major school in all of college basketball.

Few has been an institution at Gonzaga for decades, starting his collegiate coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 1989 before spending nearly 10 years as an assistant, then taking over the head coaching job in 1999-2000.

Since then, Few has accomplished virtually every feat possible in the Gonzaga record book. His greatest hits include 689 career victories, 24 NCAA Tournament appearances, 41 NCAA Tournament victories and two Final Four appearances, though a national title remains elusive.

The remarkable stats don’t end there. Under Few, Gonzaga has never had a losing season. It has never won fewer than 23 games in a single year and has only lost at least 10 games twice. Moreover, Gonzaga has never missed a held NCAA Tournament since Few took over.

It does need to be said that Few was suspended for three games a couple of years ago after being arrested for driving under the influence. He got off with a fine after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and was lucky not to have seriously hurt anyone. Another incident like that won’t be taken as lightly.

He’s a few years removed from that blemish on his personal record, however, and shows no signs of letting up as the leader of the mid-major juggernaut.