Gonzaga’s Mark Few named Naismith Coach of the Year

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few was named the 2017 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year on Sunday, according to a release.

“It’s truly an honor to be chosen for the Naismith Award. It takes a village to have a season like this,” Few said in a release. “I’m blessed to have the best coaching staff in the country and a phenomenal group of players that are a joy to coach.”

Few, who led the Bulldogs to their first national championship appearance and a 37-1 record, beat out finalists Chris Collins (Northwestern), Bill Self (Kansas) and Jay Wright (Villanova). The award was voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s national voting academy, as well as a fan vote.

The Bulldogs won their fifth consecutive West Coast Conference regular-season championship and appeared in their 19th straight NCAA Tournament appearance this season.