Mark Few receives surprise Hall of Fame call while fly-fishing, prepares for weekend induction

During a fly-fishing trip in the backcountry of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, Gonzaga’s longtime head coach Mark Few received an unexpected call from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announcing his selection for the 2026 inductee class alongside coaches Doc Rivers and Mike D'Antoni, former NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire, WNBA icons Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne and Chamique Holdsclaw, the 1996 USA women’s Olympic team and referee Joey Crawford.

Few said the news left him “overwhelmed with gratitude,” a feeling he reiterated at a Friday press conference held at Mohegan Sun Casino. The Hall of Fame’s enshrinement weekend will take place in Uncasville, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts, beginning with a red-carpet gala where inductees receive the classic orange jackets. Between 130 and 150 members of Few’s Gonzaga circle, including former players such as John Stockton, Domantas Sabonis and Drew Timme, as well as coaching colleagues and notable friends, are attending. Few is scheduled to give his formal induction speech in Springfield, the historic birthplace of basketball.