Mark Few: How Much Does the Wizard of Want Earn as Gonzaga’s Coach

Mark Few is one of the most successful and respected college basketball coaches in the United States. He has been the head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs since 1999, leading them to 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including two national championship games. He has also won 16 West Coast Conference (WCC) regular-season titles and 15 WCC tournament titles, earning him 13 WCC Coach of the Year awards. He is the third-fastest coach to reach 500 wins in Division I history, and has the highest winning percentage among active coaches.

But who is Mark Few, and how did he become the coach of one of the most dominant programs in college basketball? In this article, we will explore his biography, salary, net worth, contract, education, partner, family, age, and more.

Early Life and Education

Mark Norman Few was born on December 27, 1962, in Creswell, Oregon. He is the son of a Presbyterian pastor, Norm Few, and his wife. He attended Creswell High School, where he was a star point guard on the basketball team. He graduated in 1981 and enrolled at Linfield College, hoping to play basketball and baseball. However, he was hampered by a shoulder injury he suffered while playing football in high school, and transferred to the University of Oregon after one year. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1987.

Coaching Career

Few began his coaching career as an unpaid part-time assistant at Creswell High School in 1983, while also working at Oregon’s summer basketball camps. In 1989, he was hired as a graduate assistant by Gonzaga University, a small Catholic school in Spokane, Washington, under head coach Dan Monson. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a full-time assistant in 1990, and the associate head coach in 1993.

In 1999, Monson left Gonzaga to take the head coaching job at Minnesota, and Few was promoted to replace him. Few inherited a team that had just reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, and had high expectations. Few did not disappoint, leading the Bulldogs to another Elite Eight appearance in his first season, and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in his second season. He also won his first WCC regular-season and tournament titles, and was named the WCC Coach of the Year.

Since then, Few has established Gonzaga as a perennial powerhouse in college basketball, consistently competing with the best teams in the country. He has guided the Bulldogs to 22 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the longest active streak in Division I. He has also reached the Sweet Sixteen 11 times, the Elite Eight six times, and the national championship game twice, in 2017 and 2021. He has won 16 WCC regular-season titles and 15 WCC tournament titles, and has been named the WCC Coach of the Year 13 times. He has also received several national coaching awards, including the Henry Iba Award in 2017, and the Naismith Coach of the Year in 2021.

Few is known for his offensive philosophy, which emphasizes ball movement, spacing, shooting, and tempo. He is also praised for his ability to recruit and develop players, especially international players, who fit his system and culture. Some of his notable players include Adam Morrison, Kelly Olynyk, Domantas Sabonis, Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke, and Jalen Suggs.

Personal Life and Family

Few is married to Marcy Laca, whom he met while working at Oregon’s summer basketball camps. They tied the knot in 1994, in a ceremony officiated by Few’s father. They have four children: three sons, Austin James (AJ), Joseph, and Colt, and one daughter, Julia. They live in Spokane, Washington, where they are active in the community and support various charitable causes.

Few is an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, who enjoys spending time in nature with his family and friends. He is also a fan of the Seattle Seahawks and the Oregon Ducks.

Salary

Few is one of the highest-paid college basketball coaches in the country, earning a base salary of $1.8 million per season. He also receives performance bonuses based on his team’s achievements, such as reaching the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, or national championship game, and winning the WCC regular-season or tournament titles. He also has a long-term contract with Gonzaga, which runs through the 2025-26 season, and gives him a lot of job security and stability.

Net Worth

Few has an estimated net worth of $12 million, as of 2021. His primary source of income is his career as a basketball coach, but he also earns money from endorsements, sponsorships, and speaking engagements. He is sponsored by Nike, and has appeared in commercials for Coca-Cola, AT&T, and other brands. He also speaks at various events, such as clinics, camps, conferences, and fundraisers.

Conclusion

Mark Few is one of the most successful and respected college basketball coaches in the United States. He has been the head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs since 1999, leading them to 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including two national championship games. He has also won 16 WCC regular-season titles and 15 WCC tournament titles, earning him 13 WCC Coach of the Year awards. He is the third-fastest coach to reach 500 wins in Division I history, and has the highest winning percentage among active coaches.

Few has a remarkable biography, salary, net worth, contract, education, partner, family, age, and more. He is married to Marcy Laca, and they have four children. He lives in Spokane, Washington, where he is active in the community and supports various charitable causes. He is an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, who enjoys spending time in nature with his family and friends. He is also a fan of the Seattle Seahawks and the Oregon Ducks.

Few is a legend in college basketball, and a role model for many aspiring coaches and players. He has built Gonzaga into a powerhouse program, and has achieved a lot of success and recognition. He is still hungry for more, and hopes to win his first national championship soon.

10 Most Asked Questions and Answers

Here are some of the most asked questions and answers about Mark Few, based on the web search results:

• Q: How old is Mark Few?
  • A: Mark Few is 59 years old, as of 2021. He was born on December 27, 1962, in Creswell, Oregon.
• Q: How long has Mark Few been coaching Gonzaga?
  • A: Mark Few has been coaching Gonzaga since 1999, when he was promoted to replace Dan Monson, who left for Minnesota. He has been with the program since 1989, when he was hired as a graduate assistant.
• Q: How much does Mark Few make?
  • A: Mark Few makes a base salary of $1.8 million per season, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He also receives performance bonuses based on his team’s achievements, such as reaching the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, or national championship game, and winning the WCC regular-season or tournament titles.
• Q: What is Mark Few’s net worth?
  • A: Mark Few has an estimated net worth of $12 million, as of 2021, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His primary source of income is his career as a basketball coach, but he also earns money from endorsements, sponsorships, and speaking engagements.
• Q: Who is Mark Few’s wife?
  • A: Mark Few’s wife is Marcy Laca, whom he met while working at Oregon’s summer basketball camps. They got married in 1994, in a ceremony officiated by Few’s father. They have four children: three sons, Austin James (AJ), Joseph, and Colt, and one daughter, Julia.
• Q: Where does Mark Few live?
  • A: Mark Few lives in Spokane, Washington, where he coaches the Gonzaga Bulldogs. He and his family have a house near the campus, where they enjoy the natural beauty and tranquility of the area.
• Q: What are Mark Few’s hobbies?
  • A: Mark Few is an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, who enjoys spending time in nature with his family and friends. He likes to fish for trout, salmon, steelhead, and bass, and has traveled to various places, such as Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Canada, for fishing trips. He also likes to hike, bike, ski, and golf, and is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks and the Oregon Ducks.
• Q: What are Mark Few’s awards?
  • A: Mark Few has won several awards for his coaching excellence, both at the conference and national level. He has won 13 WCC Coach of the Year awards, the most in conference history. He has also won the Henry Iba Award in 2017, the Naismith Coach of the Year in 2021, and the AP Coach of the Year in 2021. He has also been a finalist or a semifinalist for several other awards, such as the John Wooden Award, the Jim Phelan Award, and the NABC Coach of the Year.