Bulldogs coach still has plenty of work left

Mark Few protested. He suggested alternatives, ranging from assistant coaches to players. He tried to deflect the attention elsewhere.

Finally, he grudgingly went along with being the subject of this week’s Q & A.

S-R: You and technology don’t have a close relationship. Last time you sent or received e-mail?

Few: It was after one of our Sweet 16 games, probably my second year (as head coach). I had upwards of 5,000 e-mails. That was the end of my e-mail. Since then, I haven’t had one, and I haven’t missed it.

S-R: Are you physically capable of sending or receiving a text message?

Few: I can receive one. It’s somewhat of a challenge to send them, but I have and I’m getting better at it. I was one of those in the forefront pushing for a ban on texting in recruiting, so I was happy to see that go through.

S-R: Most influential person in your coaching career?

Few: Wow. I’d say probably Leon (Rice), Billy (Grier), Ray (Giacoletti) and Tommy (Lloyd).

S-R: Most influential person in your life?

Few: Mom and dad, just for life lessons. My dad on how to run a church and serve everybody and my mom with all the selfless behind-the-scenes things with that.

S-R: What is left for you to accomplish at Gonzaga?

Few: I never look at me and my accomplishments. It’s all about building the program. I think to continue to grow the product, whether that’s development of the players, whether that’s scheduling or recruiting. It’s been a great run. It’s so much harder to keep it going than it is to build it to that level.

S-R: Many years ago, a lot of people probably weren’t convinced that Gonzaga could get on the national stage and stay there, but that has happened. The next thing was, is it possible GU could win a national championship? Could that happen?

Few: The problem with that … people have no idea how much luck and good fortune goes into it. First of all you have to be really, really good, which is the hardest thing. And in a one-and-done tournament, there are officials’ calls – every one of those national championship teams can look back to a moment or moments that had nothing to do with anything but pure luck. Look at the UCLA game for us or even UConn way back. That’s where there’s a danger with all or nothing with a national championship or Final Four. I think winning the way our guys have been able to win, staying on the national scene, getting great people in this program and certainly playing good basketball, those are the goals I have for us.

S-R: Could you be content coaching your entire career here?

Few: Oh, yeah. We love Spokane, we love Gonzaga. It’s basically been the whole part of my adult life. As long as we feel appreciated and we feel we’re doing a good job. That’s what makes this such a great job is the support we have and the people I’m surrounded with.