If you’ve spent any time watching college hoops over the last twenty-five years, you know the deal. Mark Few is Gonzaga. The man has turned a small Jesuit school in Spokane into a global basketball brand. But whenever the conversation shifts to the Mark Few salary, things get a little murky. People see the private jets and the national title appearances and assume he’s pulling in Nick Saban-level cash.
The reality? It’s complicated.
Gonzaga is a private institution. That means they don't have to shout their payroll from the rooftops like Kentucky or Kansas. We have to do a bit of sleuthing through tax filings and industry leaks to see how much "the King of Spokane" actually takes home. Honestly, for a guy with a winning percentage that basically defies logic, he’s been one of the biggest bargains in sports for a long time.
The 2025-2026 Payday: Breaking Down the Numbers
As we roll through the 2025-2026 season, the estimated Mark Few salary sits somewhere in the neighborhood of $4.5 million to $5.5 million annually.
Now, wait. If you look at some of the older "celebrity net worth" sites, they’ll tell you he’s making $1.8 million. That’s outdated. Way outdated. Back in 2022, USA Today tracked his compensation at roughly $4.2 million. Since then, the market for elite coaches has exploded. With the Zags officially prepping for their move to the Pac-12 in 2026, the school has had to ensure Few is compensated like the blue-blood coach he is.
Here is the thing about coaching contracts: the "base" is just the start.
- Base Salary: This is the guaranteed bread and butter.
- Media & Appearances: Most of his money likely comes from radio shows, TV spots, and "public relations" duties.
- Equipment Deals: Nike doesn't just give the players shoes; they pay the guy leading them.
- Performance Bonuses: Making the Sweet 16, winning the WCC (or soon, the Pac-12), and hitting win milestones.
For a guy who has won over 83% of his games, those bonuses add up. Fast.
Why Mark Few Stays in Spokane
You've heard the rumors. Every time a "blue blood" job opens up—UCLA, Indiana, even the NBA—Few’s name is on the list. And every time, he stays. This choice has a massive impact on his career earnings. If he had jumped to a school like Kentucky five years ago, his salary would likely be $9 million or more.
But Few values something else.
He loves fly fishing. He loves the Pacific Northwest. He loves having total control over his program without the "win or you’re fired" pressure that comes with a $10 million price tag in the SEC. Essentially, he’s traded a few extra million dollars for a quality of life most coaches would kill for.
That doesn't mean he's struggling. With a reported net worth hovering around $15 million to $20 million, he’s doing just fine.
Comparing the Mark Few Salary to Other Elites
To really understand if Mark Few is "underpaid," you have to look at the neighborhood.
In the 2025 landscape, Bill Self at Kansas is clearing over $8.8 million. John Calipari, even after moving to Arkansas, is in that $8 million club. Then you have guys like Dan Hurley at UConn, who turned down the Lakers to stay in college for a massive raise.
Few is comfortably in the top 15-20 highest-paid coaches, but he’s not in the top 5. For a guy who consistently puts his team in the top 10 of the AP Poll, that is incredible value for Gonzaga.
"It's never been about the money for Mark. If it was, he would have left Spokane a decade ago." — Common sentiment among college basketball analysts.
💡 You might also like: Why the Hsieh/Ostapenko Wimbledon Upset Siniakova/Townsend Win Was So Massive
The Pac-12 Move and the Future of His Contract
Everything changes in July 2026. When Gonzaga officially joins the Pac-12, the revenue streams are going to shift. More TV money. More prestige. More travel.
You can bet your house that a contract extension is either in the works or already signed to account for this jump. Joining a "Power" conference means the Mark Few salary will almost certainly see a "market correction." Don't be surprised if the next round of tax filings shows him crossing the $6 million mark.
It’s just the cost of doing business at the highest level.
What This Means for You (The Fan)
If you’re a Gonzaga fan, the coach's salary is actually a metric of stability. High pay for a coach at a private school usually indicates a massive donor base (the "Zags" boosters) that is willing to shell out to keep the program elite.
It means the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) funds for the players are likely healthy, too. You don't pay a coach $5 million if you can't afford to get him players.
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Money:
- Check the Form 990: Since Gonzaga is a non-profit, they file a Form 990 with the IRS every year. These are public, though they usually lag by about 12-18 months. If you want the exact number, that’s where it lives.
- Watch the "Coaching Carousel": Whenever a mid-tier coach gets $4 million, Few’s agent (the legendary Jordan Bazant) likely uses that as leverage for a "loyalty" bump.
- Look at the Pac-12 Revenue: Keep an eye on the new media rights deal for the rebuilt Pac-12. A percentage of that TV money is what funds these massive coaching raises.
The bottom line is that Mark Few has earned every penny. Whether it's $4 million or $6 million, the return on investment for Gonzaga—taking a small school in eastern Washington and making it a household name—is literally priceless.
To stay informed on the latest contract shifts, keep an eye on the university's official athletics announcements and the annual USA Today coaching salary database updates which typically drop just before March Madness.