Mark Few releases statement after DUI arrest

On3 imageby:Tim Verghese09/07/21

TimVerghese

Gonzaga head basketball coach Mark Few has released a statement after being cited for DUI north of Coeur d’Alene on Monday.

“I believe as a leader and role model, I am expected to set only the best example,” Few said. “The decisions I made yesterday do not exemplify this standard and for that, I sincerely apologize to you all. I recognize that operating a motor vehicle after consuming any amount of alcohol exhibits poor judgement.”

Few apologized to the Gonzaga community.

“I deeply regret disappointing any of the members of the community, the young men and women who comprise my campus community, and the University as a whole,” he said. “In particular, I am sorry for the hurt that I have cause to those most important to me – my family, players, and my program”

According to The Spokesman-Review, Mark Few was stopped around 8 p.m. at North Fourth Street and East Hanley Avenue in Dalton Gardens after police received a report that he was driving erratically and speeding. Police said Few refused to complete field sobriety tests, exhibited “several signs of intoxication,” but provided breath samples of .119 and .120. 

Through 22 seasons, Few holds a 630-125 record at Gonzaga. His 83.4 winning percentage is No. 1 all-time at the NCAA Division I or equivalent level for coaches with at least 10 years of experience.

Entering his 23rd season at Gonzaga, Few is coming off his best season yet. In 2020, the Bulldogs finished with its first-ever undefeated regular and conference season at 26-0 and runner-up to Baylor in the NCAA Championship. 

In the 2021 recruiting cycle, Few and Gonzaga landed their best recruiting class in history, landing three of their top five prospects ever. The headliner of the class is five-star Chet Holmgren, who ranks as the No. 3 prospect in the country per On3’s 2021 basketball rankings. Gonzaga also landed high four-star guards Hunter Sallis and Nolan Hickman as well as four-star power forward Kaden Perry. 

In his career, Mark Few has led Gonzaga to 20 West Coast Conference championships, 17 West Coast Conference Tournament championships and two Final Four appearances. Few won AP Coach of the Year in 2017, Naismith Coach of the Year and NABC Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2021. Few also won the Henry Iba Award in 2017.