Gonzaga Basketball’s Remarkable Rise and Future Challenges
Gonzaga University’s men’s basketball team once faced steep challenges, a sentiment often echoed by its former coach. Dan Monson, a key figure in the program’s history, now reflects humorously on the struggles he witnessed while serving as an assistant coach in the early 1990s. At that time, his boss, Dan Fitzgerald, candidly expressed the uphill battle they faced in Spokane, Washington, as they aimed to recruit talent to a school tucked away from major metropolitan areas.
Monson shares anecdotes from those days when Fitzgerald detailed the obstacles inherent to their location. Competing against schools situated in cities like San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles made recruitment particularly arduous. Additionally, the cold, icy weather of Spokane and a historically limited Gonzaga basketball tradition—save for alumnus John Stockton—compounded the challenges the program faced.
In hindsight, Monson admits Fitzgerald’s assessment was accurate: “He often told Mark Few and me that Gonzaga was the worst job in the West Coast Conference.” However, the current landscape of college basketball reveals a stark contrast to those earlier predictions.
This week, Gonzaga achieved its 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, maintaining a record only surpassed by Kansas State and Michigan State. Over this remarkable era, the Bulldogs have reached two national championship games and boasted a 56-6 record in the West Coast Conference Tournament.
During Gonzaga’s ascent to dominance, Monson noted an influx of inquiries from coaches and administrators seeking guidance on building successful programs. The prevailing question? “How can we become the next Gonzaga?”
Bill Grier, an assistant at Colorado and former Gonzaga staff member, aptly characterized the Bulldogs’ journey as a unique tale in college sports. He pointed out that this small program, which had never reached the NCAA Tournament before 1995, has since achieved remarkable milestones, including participating in the Final Four and championship game.
Despite Gonzaga’s rise, other West Coast Conference members have struggled to achieve similar success. The conference has often seen only one team qualify for the NCAA Tournament in a season, with schools like Loyola Marymount, Portland, Pepperdine, and San Diego last participating decades ago. Santa Clara, for instance, qualified this year for the first time since 1996.
Former San Diego player Gino Pomare reflects on the competitive landscape, stating that Gonzaga’s dominance meant other teams were often battling for a distant second place. “Winning tournaments is the only way to get there,” he emphasized, highlighting the difficulty of breaking Gonzaga’s winning streak.
Throughout this period, Gonzaga has captured 22 conference tournament titles since 1998, including 12 of the last 14 years, solidifying its position as the predominant force within the WCC. Phil Matthews, the former San Francisco coach, commented on the intense competition for second place, acknowledging the high caliber of coaches within the league.
With Gonzaga’s planned transition to the revamped Pac-12 Conference this summer, concerns arise over the impact of its departure on the remaining WCC members. Though some may celebrate the exit of a program that overshadowed their chances, many recognize the economic benefits Gonzaga brought to the conference. The revenue generated from Gonzaga’s NCAA tournament success has been significant, with estimates exceeding $51 million since 1999.
As Gonzaga prepares to leave, changes in the distribution of NCAA Tournament revenue will impact the conference and its member schools. Starting in 2024, half of each credit earned during the tournament will go to the participating school, with the remaining half allocated to the conference members. Monson believes Gonzaga’s exit could spell significant challenges for remaining schools, given the revenue and exposure the Bulldogs consistently provided.
Reflecting on the transformation of the program since 1999, when Monson moved to the University of Minnesota, he recalls how investment in resources—new stadiums, competitive scheduling, and a commitment to attracting talent—has fostered Gonzaga’s success. As a result, the school has not only achieved an impressive athletic legacy but has also significantly elevated the profile of West Coast basketball.
Despite Gonzaga’s departure, WC Commissioner Stu Jackson remains optimistic about the future of the conference. He believes that ongoing investments from member institutions may maintain a competitive presence within the NCAA landscape, especially as Pepperdine, San Francisco, and Loyola Marymount work to enhance their facilities. Jackson is encouraged by these developments and sees them as a positive sign for the conference’s resilience in the face of Gonzaga’s exit.
