Yo AI. How did Gonzaga become so successful as a mid-major program?

[Just Sayin]

Gonzaga's transformation from a small mid-major program to a powerhouse in Division I men's basketball is indeed an impressive and unique story. The program's success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including leadership, vision, support from various stakeholders, and a commitment to excellence. Here's an outline of their journey to success:

Early Years (Late 19th Century - Early 1990s):

Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, established its basketball program in the late 19th century.
Throughout much of its early history, Gonzaga's basketball team was considered a mid-major program, achieving some success regionally but not on the national stage.

Hiring of Dan Fitzgerald (1985):

In 1985, Gonzaga hired Dan Fitzgerald as the head coach of the men's basketball team.
Fitzgerald's leadership and coaching abilities laid the groundwork for the program's future success.

Mark Few's Appointment (1999):


In 1999, Mark Few, an assistant coach under Fitzgerald, was promoted to head coach after Fitzgerald's retirement.
Few's appointment marked a turning point in Gonzaga's basketball program.
NCAA Tournament Success (Late 1990s - Early 2000s):

Under Mark Few's leadership, Gonzaga began to gain national attention with consistent appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Notable successes in the tournament, including deep runs and upsets, helped raise the program's profile.
Investment in Facilities and Resources:

To compete at a higher level, Gonzaga invested in state-of-the-art facilities for its basketball program.
This included upgrading their arena, practice facilities, and investing in recruiting resources.

Recruiting and Player Development:

Gonzaga's coaching staff, led by Mark Few, excelled in identifying and recruiting talented players both domestically and internationally.
The program developed a reputation for player development, turning underrated recruits into NBA-caliber talents.
Consistent Success and Media Exposure:

Gonzaga's sustained success in the NCAA Tournament and regular-season dominance garnered significant media attention.
Increased media exposure helped attract even more talented players to the program.
Support from University Leadership and Donors:

The success of Gonzaga's basketball program received strong support from the university's leadership, including the president, board of directors, and athletic director.
Donors and alumni also played a crucial role by providing financial support, allowing the program to grow and maintain its competitiveness.

Conference Realignment (2011):

In 2011, Gonzaga and several other schools formed the West Coast Conference (WCC), a mid-major conference, for basketball.
Despite being in a mid-major conference, Gonzaga's national success and strength as a program attracted significant attention, leading many to consider them a high-major program within the mid-major conference.

Continued Dominance and National Recognition:

Gonzaga's consistent excellence in both the regular season and the NCAA Tournament cemented their reputation as a basketball powerhouse.
Despite being in a mid-major conference, they consistently competed and defeated high-major programs, further solidifying their status as a major player in college basketball.
In conclusion, Gonzaga's rise from a mid-major program to a basketball powerhouse can be attributed to strong leadership, a clear vision, investment in facilities and resources, effective recruiting and player development, consistent success in the NCAA Tournament, and unwavering support from the university's leadership and donors. This combination of factors allowed Gonzaga to achieve what many other universities have struggled to replicate, making them a notable success story in the world of Division I men's basketball.

Having the support of the university's president, board of directors, and athletic director was crucial for Gonzaga's vision of becoming a major player in Division I men's basketball. Here's why their support is of paramount importance:

Financial Investment: The vision to elevate a mid-major program to national prominence requires significant financial investment. Facilities need upgrading, recruiting budgets need to expand, and coaching staff salaries need to be competitive. The president, board of directors, and athletic director can allocate funds and approve budgets to ensure that the necessary resources are available for the basketball program to thrive.

Long-term Strategic Planning: Transforming a program takes time and a well-thought-out strategy. The university's president, board of directors, and athletic director can provide the necessary long-term planning, setting goals and benchmarks for the program's development. They can collaborate with the coaching staff to create a roadmap for success and adjust it as needed based on progress and challenges.

Institutional Reputation: A successful basketball program can significantly enhance the reputation of the entire university. When the president and the board publicly support the vision for Gonzaga's basketball program, it signals to the community, potential donors, and recruits that the university is committed to excellence in both academics and athletics. This can attract more talented students, faculty, and staff and foster a sense of pride and unity within the campus community.

Recruiting and Retention of Talent: Top-tier coaches, staff, and players are more likely to commit to a program that has strong institutional support. Knowing that the president and the board are behind the program's vision adds credibility and stability, making it easier to attract and retain high-quality personnel. Additionally, they can offer competitive compensation packages and incentives to keep the coaching staff and players motivated.

Supporting Student-Athletes: The commitment to becoming a major player in college basketball goes beyond just winning games. It involves supporting student-athletes in their academic pursuits, personal growth, and overall well-being. The university's leadership can ensure that academic resources, counseling services, and other support systems are in place to help student-athletes succeed both on and off the court.

Navigating Challenges: Building a powerhouse basketball program will undoubtedly face challenges and obstacles along the way. Having the president, board of directors, and athletic director on board means that they will be there to support the program during tough times, providing guidance, encouragement, and necessary resources to overcome difficulties.

Brand and Marketing: A successful basketball program can elevate the university's brand and increase its visibility in the media and among potential students, donors, and partners. The president, board of directors, and athletic director can play a crucial role in marketing and promoting the program's achievements, creating a positive image for the university as a whole.

In conclusion, the support of the university's president, board of directors, and athletic director is essential for Gonzaga's vision to become a major player in Division I men's basketball. Their financial backing, strategic planning, commitment to student-athletes, and overall support contribute to the program's success and its positive impact on the university's reputation and community. With their unified vision, Gonzaga has been able to achieve what many others have not and solidify their position as a basketball powerhouse.

[vu72]

In 1999, Mark Few, an assistant coach under Fitzgerald, was promoted to head coach after Fitzgerald's retirement.
Few's appointment marked a turning point in Gonzaga's basketball program.
NCAA Tournament Success (Late 1990s - Early 2000s):

Actually Dan Monson was Fitzgerald's replacement and during his two years at the helm put Gonzaga on the map by getting to the Elite Eight.  Then Monson made the classic college coaching mistake of thinking the grass would be greener at a Power 5--this time Minnesota.

[humbleopinion]

Remember that AI writes convincingly but not necessarily accurately.

[Just Sayin]

In 1999, Mark Few, an assistant coach under Fitzgerald, was promoted to head coach after Fitzgerald's retirement.
Few's appointment marked a turning point in Gonzaga's basketball program.
NCAA Tournament Success (Late 1990s - Early 2000s):

Actually Dan Monson was Fitzgerald's replacement and during his two years at the helm put Gonzaga on the map by getting to the Elite Eight.  Then Monson made the classic college coaching mistake of thinking the grass would be greener at a Power 5--this time Minnesota.

It is well known that AI at this point is often wrong and should not be relied upon. The creators know this is an ongoing problem. They are doing all they can to train it not to make stuff up.
OTOH, it is quite helpful and accurate even with the errors and I'm guessing it will get better and better with time. If what you say is true about Dan Monson, well, AI missed that one.

One recent example mentioned on another thread involving a lawyer's use of AI got himself in a bit of trouble:

A lawyer representing a man in a personal injury lawsuit in Manhattan has thrown himself on the mercy of the court. What did the lawyer do wrong? He submitted a federal court filing that cited at least six cases that don't exist. Sadly, the lawyer used the AI chatbot ChatGPT, which completely invented the cases out of thin air. The lawyer in the case, Steven A. Schwartz, is representing a man who's suing Avianca Airlines after a serving cart allegedly hit his knee in 2019. Schwartz said he'd never used ChatGPT before and had no idea it would just invent cases.

In fact, Schwartz said he even asked ChatGPT if the cases were real. The chatbot insisted they were. But it was only after the airline's lawyers pointed out in a new filing that the cases didn't exist that Schwartz discovered his error. (Or, the computer's error, depending on how you look at it.)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/05/27/lawyer-uses-chatgpt-in-federal-court-and-it-goes-horribly-wrong/?sh=30f98a223494

[VULB#62]

OTOH, if you step back and look at the major themes AI highlighted, regardless of picky details, it is spot-on strategically.

IDK about the board, but we have a President, AD, and the new coach who are all on the same page. Recruiting is front and center and promoted. Outreach is aggressive. The message is uplifting.

One other thing that needs some underscoring:  Padilla, Small and Powell are DYNAMIC.  This is just the start, my friends.

[vu84v2]

AI handles themes far better than it handles facts. The WCC was created in 1989-1990 and Gonzaga has always been a member. The first WCC conference champion may be equally or more famous than any Gonzaga team: the 1989-1990 Loyola Marymount team that went to the Elite Eight.

Another big part of Gonzaga building its success was the development of the "Kennel Club" (their great student section). There is a great book on this titled, "We are G.U.: The Origins, History, and Impact of Gonzaga University's Kennel Club".

[VULB#62]

Being Beacons is great (yes, I've caved in), but let's do some piling on to your post, 84. We currently have the ValparaiZone student section.

That was then. This is now. Time for a change, dammit.

That moniker could easily, based on our new dual K-9 mascots, be transformed into the........


Wait for it............



Wait.......



The Dog Pound! 



That's even more aggressive and exciting dontcha think?

[valpo64]

The only problem is what does the "Dog Pound" have to do do with or share in common with "Beacons"?  I do not want to bring up any conversation concerning the nickname/mascot disaster, but lets face it, the new thing was one of the most stupid marketing programs in college basketball history so it is going to be hard to find a good way to create a new, innovative approach to the student section thing.

[Just Sayin]

The only problem is what does the "Dog Pound" have to do do with or share in common with "Beacons"?  I do not want to bring up any conversation concerning the nickname/mascot disaster, but lets face it, the new thing was one of the most stupid marketing programs in college basketball history so it is going to be hard to find a good way to create a new, innovative approach to the student section thing.

Yep the tail wagged the dog on that piss-poor decision.

[valpo64]

And now the Beacon is shedding light on the dogs and any mess they may leave,   

[VUGrad1314]

Gonzaga may not be mid major much longer. Some rumors have them joining the Big XII alongside UConn (Olympics only) this on the heels of the Big XII pulling off a massive coup by adding Colorado Arizona Utah and Arizona State. If they can get that done that is going to be an amazing basketball conference. In other news Oregon and Washington will join the Big XII in 2024 for the 2024-2025 Academic Year. The PAC now down to 4 is effectively dead. It remains to be seen whether they merge with the MWC try to pluck the best from the G5 and make a new conference or go to some other conference.

[JD24]

As much as football is mentioned with the latest round of realignment, I think it is basketball and other sports which may be the most affected by the realignment. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out in the end.

This, as we say goodbye to the "Conference of no teams for Bill Walton".

[vu84v2]

Now that the Big 12 will have 16 teams as of Fall 2024, I see a much lower likelihood that the Big 12 will add Gonzaga and UConn.

Of the four remained Pac 12 teams, Stanford has the biggest issues. They have the most successful teams in sports other than football and basketball, but they use the TV money (especially from football) to fund those sports. If Stanford cannot find a deal to replace most of that TV revenue, they are going to need to cut a number of sports (more than a few). Stanford finding a deal has some degree of likelihood because many university presidents salivate at having Stanford in their conference (based on academic reputation).

Beyond Stanford seeking a solution, my speculation is that the MWC will ask the three (or four) remaining teams to join the MWC AND will cut a deal to acquire the Pac-12 name. They will then change the name of the MWC to the Pac-12. They will also aggressively try to get Gonzaga to move, which could happen given that the WCC lost BYU.

[wh]

Can Gonzaga help save the Pac-12?
https://www.si.com/college/gonzaga/basketball/can-gonzaga-help-save-the-pac-12

Gonzaga has one of the most powerful brands in college basketball. I can think of no reason why they would risk everything to join a conference in survival mode, led by a commissioner getting outmaneuvered at every turn. If anything, their recruiting just got a boost by the surrounding turmoil and instability.

[vu84v2]

Gonzaga has one of the most powerful brands in college basketball. I can think of no reason why they would risk everything to join a conference in survival mode, led by a commissioner getting outmaneuvered at every turn. If anything, their recruiting just got a boost by the surrounding turmoil and instability.

I fully agree with you about Gonzaga's brand. However, they have three limitations: 1. they are in Spokane, 2. they don't play football, 3. they are in a mid-tier conference now (especially after BYU left). Gonzaga would be in the Big East now if they were in the eastern two-thirds of the US. As for the Big 12, I would like to see them as part of the Big 12, but the Big 12 has a lot to digest with rapidly going from 10 to 16 teams (and, again, football drives a lot of this realignment). That leaves two options: stay in the WCC with only one team that can consistently compete with them (Saint Mary's) or move to a revamped MWC/Pac-12 hybrid with multiple teams offering good competition each year and more TV revenue than the WCC.

[JD24]

If Gonzaga were in, lets say Big 10 or Big 12, they'd become much less of a household name. Essentially a school which shows up for the basketball season which they won't be as successful at during the regular season in a bigger conference. Not playing football is a major deal.

[valporun]

Gonzaga moving to the Big 10 or Big 12 would be like what happened when Nebraska left for the money. Nebraska hasn't been a factor in the Big Ten for anything more than another TV market for the Big Ten Network to reach out to. Even in watching the Big 10 Network coverage of Oregon and Washington being accepted, all that Dave Revsine and Jake Butt could talk about was the ability to be at Autzen Stadium and Huskie Stadium in the Fall for Big Ten football, and the exposure that would bring them and the conference on the media side. Sure, Oregon brings in another competitive track and cross country program, which I'll support, but will it really make as big of an impact, or is it another case of poaching Maryland and Rutgers?

[valpotx]

No need for Gonzaga or UConn in the Big 12 at this point.  Already in the top 2 basketball conferences (we can debate whether #1 or #2 all day), and those schools don't bring anything other than a solid basketball program.

[VULB#62]

No need for Gonzaga or UConn in the Big 12 at this point.  Already in the top 2 basketball conferences (we can debate whether #1 or #2 all day), and those schools don't bring anything other than a solid basketball program.

TX, I totally agree with your initial  and your concluding statements.   BUT........

.......both in the top two conferences?  Gonzaga's WCC is mid major with only two competitive teams (and we beat one of them on our way to the NIT final). The Big East is very good in some years, but it pretty much runs hot or cold as a consistently top 3 or even 4 P5+1 leading conference.  But with the recent upheaval, the P5+1 doesn't even exist anymore, so this part of the discussion is rendered moot anyway.

[wh]

If Gonzaga were in, lets say Big 10 or Big 12, they'd become much less of a household name. Essentially a school which shows up for the basketball season which they won't be as successful at during the regular season in a bigger conference. Not playing football is a major deal.

Good point. Are there any P5 schools that don't play FB? Football rules the roost in the P5. This all started with the SEC and B10 poaching schools from other conferences to build super football conferences. Other sports, including men's bb, are just along for the ride.

[vu84v2]

If Gonzaga were in, lets say Big 10 or Big 12, they'd become much less of a household name. Essentially a school which shows up for the basketball season which they won't be as successful at during the regular season in a bigger conference. Not playing football is a major deal.

Good point. Are there any P5 schools that don't play FB? Football rules the roost in the P5. This all started with the SEC and B10 poaching schools from other conferences to build super football conferences. Other sports, including men's bb, are just along for the ride.

There are no Power 5 schools that don't play football, but the Big East is on par with the P5s (i.e. its a P5 + 1). No conference has more national champions in the last 7 tournaments than the Big East.

[usc4valpo]

Seeing the death of the PAC12 Conference of Champions is very sad indeed. The blame goes not to the Big 10, Big 12, or the teams that left. The PAC12 leadership under Larry Scott and the pompous, naive and reactive PAC12 presidents was the result of this migration.

The Big12 was also very smart and came out the big winner. Their football will be solid, basketball will be insane, and the conference is in solid standing- especially considering many thought they were disintegrating 4 years ago!

As for Gonzaga, give the school much credit for following through on their strategy. I think Valpo will get their act together and move forward, and I like their recent decision making to think long term.

[JD24]

If Gonzaga were in, lets say Big 10 or Big 12, they'd become much less of a household name. Essentially a school which shows up for the basketball season which they won't be as successful at during the regular season in a bigger conference. Not playing football is a major deal.

Good point. Are there any P5 schools that don't play FB? Football rules the roost in the P5. This all started with the SEC and B10 poaching schools from other conferences to build super football conferences. Other sports, including men's bb, are just along for the ride.

There are no Power 5 schools that don't play football, but the Big East is on par with the P5s (i.e. its a P5 + 1). No conference has more national champions in the last 7 tournaments than the Big East.

Which is why Gonzaga being in the Big East would make more sense from a competition standpoint with MBB as the major sport. Location.....not so much.

[VUGrad1314]

I am also a fan of Gonzaga basketball. The Big East is the ideal landing spot obviously if not for the travel. That being said, with the PAC 12 having all but disintegrated (Stanford and Cal are being talked about for the ACC which would be tremendous adds for both schools and conference if geography is truly irrelevant at this point) if the Mountain West (which we must all remember just got 4 teams in the tournament including the national runner up and another into the NIT) adds Washington State and Oregon State I think that is more than enough to convince them to finally make the move. If they look to adopt the old Big East hybrid model (which might actually succeed because where are those western schools going to go at this point without the PAC 12?) and add even more basketball power like St Mary's and possibly Wichita State Grand Canyon or even New Mexico State) then it's a done deal that the Mountain West would be a great landing spot and the best mix of maximization of competition strength and minimization of travel costs. I daresay that a Mountain West with Washington State Oregon State Gonzaga and St Mary's even has the potential to be as good or better than the Big East. I think the Big East is going to have to look to add teams again at some point to strengthen itself which is going to be bad news for the A-10 especially Loyola because the top two targets are likely to be SLU and Dayton followed by VCU and Richmond.

[VUGrad1314]

Seriously though, I can't believe the Big XII. Their commissioners (past and present) deserve a lot of props for giving us all a master class in how to handle a Crisis. The Pac 12 commissioner (whether it's his fault or the fault of the school presidents in the conference is up for debate) showed us the exact opposite. In a situation like this, strike quickly to get the best pieces you can to stabilize and then you can look for opportunities to strengthen yourself down the road. Of course, it's also true that the Big XII had a huge advantage in their crisis that by and large the other schools were not wanted by anyone else and they had the chance to stabilize. Kansas and Oklahoma State are (I believe) the only schools that another more powerful conference would try to poach and they are behind most of the other targets for the Big 10\SEC because they don't really bring markets. This is also true of the MVC by and large which will work to our advantage and we will stay relatively strong no matter what happens even if our stature keeps diminishing relative to other more powerful conferences. The Pac 12 had markets, (Colorado Arizona\ASU Washington Stanford\Cal even Oregon and Utah to some extent) three solid football programs (Utah Washington Oregon) a strong basketball program  (Arizona) Academic powerhouses (Stanford\Cal and AAU schools (ASU Colorado Utah Washington Oregon) to sell to other conferences. That and the decisions they made but mostly the relative attractiveness of their schools is the reason they were picked apart while the Big XII was left alone with the opportunity to rebuild. And that basketball league... Kansas Baylor Arizona Kansas State Oklahoma State Texas Tech and I'm sure I'm underselling a few more... Good Lord...