"This is tough": College hoops world celebrates Gonzaga's move to Pac-12 in latest conference realignment era
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are joining the Pac-12 conference in all the sports the university participates in. They do not have a football roster but will bring high-caliber women’s and men’s basketball programs to the conference after 2025.
The Zags' addition to the Pac-12 highlights the league’s goal of becoming a powerful athletic conference. It is a huge win, as the Bulldogs' inclusion will not only help bring the crowd to games but can also help the Pac-12 add more suitable competitors.
Bulldogs follows CSU, Boise State and San Diego State’s recent shift to be the first movers into a newly reformed conference.
Fans flooded social media following the big update by congratulating the Pac-12 and Bulldogs. Here are some of the reactions from fans on X/Twitter:
"Pac-12 just leveled up big time!" a fan wrote.
"Wow, that’s a big shake-up. Gonzaga joining the Pac-12 should be interesting," another fan commented.
While some displayed excitement for Zags basketball, other fans mounted questions about the university's football program:
"Is the PAC 12 going to add a football only school then to offset or will the Zags add a football program??" one fan wrote.
"Someones getting paid off smh. they dont even have a football team," another fan commented.
"Gonzaga football incoming. They will be horrible," another fan said.
Gonzaga's Mark Few earns prestigious award
Bulldogs' basketball coach Mark Few was named the John R. Wooden “Legends of Coaching” award recipient for next year. Few’s nomination was announced by coach Wooden’s grandfather-in-law, Craig Impelman, on Tuesday at LA Athletic Club.
With the first award bestowed in 1999, the “Legends of Coaching” honor is for the coach believed to radiate Coach Wooden’s integrity and coaching success. Personality, wins, graduation rate of the roster and coaching philosophies are a few of the factors a coach is judged on. The award will be presented to Few in April.
Mark Few served as Gonzaga’s assistant coach for 10 years before taking over the head coaching role in 1999. He has the highest winning rate of all D1 coaches behind a 715-143 record (83.3%).