Gonzaga coach Mark Few has been suspended by the university for two preseason exhibition games, the team’s season-opener vs. Dixie State and Saturday’s Kraziness at the Kennel preseason, Midnight Madness-style event following his DUI arrest last month. Few announced his punishment in a statement released by Gonzaga on Saturday morning.
The discipline stems from Few’s arrest on a driving under the influence charge over Labor Day weekend in nearby Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where Few owns a home. Reports stated that Few did not agree to a field sobriety test, and that a breathalyzer test returned a blood alcohol reading of .119. The legal limit in Idaho is .08.
“I have had a month to reflect on the regretful decisions I made on Sept. 6,” Few said in a statement Saturday. “I again offer my sincere apology and I remain committed to learning from this mistake. As a consequence of my error in judgment, I will not be present at Kraziness in the Kennel and the first three games of our season. I know this impacts our student-athletes and the coaching staff as we begin the season. I understand the severity of my actions and am sorry for the impact this consequence has on our team. Thank you again to those who have supported me, my family, and our program throughout this process.”
Few’s suspension conspicuously means he will be back for the team’s second game of the regular season, a highly anticipated home matchup against Texas. The Longhorns could be ranked in the top five entering the season, which would make the matchup, statistically, biggest home game in program history. Gonzaga has never hosted a team ranked in the top five at its home venue. Gonzaga, the No. 1 team in CBS Sports’ Top 25 And 1 heading into November, is expected to be the official preseason No. 1 team in men’s college basketball when the first AP Top 25 is unveiled later this month.
Gonzaga recently added a second exhibition game against Eastern Oregon, which enabled a three-game suspension to not include Gonzaga’s huge opening-week matchup vs. Texas to be affected. The last time the program scheduled two exhibition games was more than a decade ago.
“Given Coach Few’s announcement, as Athletic Director I believe it is possible to both address the seriousness of an incident and the need for accountability, while extending support and compassion to one who both accepts responsibility and commits to resolve their failing,” Gonzaga first-year athletic director Christ Standiford said in a statement. “Coach Few’s statements regarding full accountability are a reflection of his character and consistent with his demonstrated leadership approach over two decades. Even as the University continues to work through and address this matter with Coach Few, I continue to have full faith and confidence in his leadership of this program.”
