Monson Will Be Hot Ticket

Dan Monson has plans today.

“I’m going to sleep all day and not answer the phone,” the Gonzaga men’s basketball coach said.

Problem is, the phone might be ringing all day with calls GU faithful have been dreading since Monson’s name has been mentioned in several schools’ coaching searches. San Diego State might be the first to call.

Aztecs’ athletic director Rick Bay told a San Diego newspaper Saturday that he hopes to interview Monson as soon as possible. Monson, whose Bulldogs’ lost 67-62 to Connecticut in the NCAA West Regional final Saturday, said he’ll listen to prospective employers, but that he has a strong attachment to GU.

“This (season) certainly makes it tougher, but it’s going to be tough for me to leave anyway because it’s a great group of kids, it’s a university I believe in and it’s an administration that’s supportive,” Monson said. “Again, if people want to talk to me, I owe it to myself and my future to listen.

“But it would have to be an opportunity of a lifetime for me because I think with my dad (Don), and the way things went with him, I’m going to be very cautious of getting into a situation that I can’t succeed in.”

It’s notable that Bay hired Don Monson at Oregon after his successful run at Idaho. He enjoyed modest success at Oregon early, but the elder Monson was eventually fired. GU has bathed in success in Dan Monson’s two years as head coach. The Bulldogs were 28-7 this season, including NCAA Tournament wins over Minnesota, Stanford and Florida. In his first year, Gonzaga was 24-10 and won a first-round NIT game.

GU players were pragmatic about Monson’s situation.

“At the end of the day being a coach, it’s a business,” center Axel Dench said. “Coach Monson’s been great to this program. If he happens to go to another school, the best of luck to him. Our school is in good hands with (assistants Billy) Grier and (Mark) Few.

“Monson will be a hot property. If he decides to go, it’s his choice and I don’t think anyone would begrudge him. In his second year, he goes into the Great Eight - the only way to go is up. He’s young and lifewise, it’s probably a pretty smart decision.”

Sophomore forward Casey Calvary, too, understands the business side of coaching.

“God bless him if he leaves and if he stays I’d love to have him,” Calvary said. “Either way we’ll be fine. We’re a pretty young team and pretty talented. If he leaves now, he’s going to leave Few and Grier a real talented team that’s going to do real well.”

Calvary, who makes a habit of needling his teammates and coaches, then added: “If he does leave, he better hope he doesn’t play us.”