"We always have the next guy up in line": Gonzaga HC Mark Few reveals who will replace him after eventual retirement
Gonzaga Bulldogs coach Mark Few named his successor to Jon Rothstein on the College Hoops Today podcast released on September 9. During one of their conversations, Rothstein pointed out former Villanova coach Jay Wright’s inclination to hand the program’s reins to someone with ties to the Wildcats.
With that, the NCAAB insider inquired Few about his idea of a favored successor.
“Nah, we already got that, Brian Michaelson will be the guy that takes over for me,” Few said. “That's the great thing about Gonzaga. We always have the next guy up in line. So, probably the best part of the story has just been the stability and the continuity of our program. That’s why we have been able so good for so long, so consistent," he added.
Initially, Tommy Lloyd, who served Gonzaga for more than two decades, was Mark Few’s next in line. However, Lloyd took a head coaching role with the Arizona Wildcats in 2021. Assistant coach Brian Michaelson has worked under Few’s staff since 2013.
Moreover, even though Few did not state his timeline to retire from his current role, he also shared that he does not have a “five-year plan or 10-year plan."
Apart from his role in Gonzaga, Mark Few also fulfilled a coaching role with Team USA basketball for the last two years. He's been part of the coaching staff for the FIBA World Cup and the Paris Olympics.
Mark Few and Gonzaga's biggest challenge this upcoming season will come near Christmas
The Bulldogs are set to face the back-to-back champion UConn Huskies on December 14 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. It is the second edition of the two programs' Hall of Fame Series; the Huskies prevailed over the Bulldogs at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena last year.
Moreover, the two teams also met in the Elite Eight in 2023, resulting in an 82-54 loss.
"Playing UConn is a daunting task. We've played them the last two years and I've not really had any sort of answer for them. They've just been so solid, so good, so physical, so efficient on offense, so tough on the glass," Few said about the December matchup during his interview with Rothstein.
With that, Mark Few believes that the MSG matchup will help Gonzaga improve in the larger run, helping their overall season success.