Dan Fitzgerald; coach guided Gonzaga team to prominence

[Forkboy]

SPOKANE, Wash. - Dan Fitzgerald, the coach who built Gonzaga into a national basketball power but resigned before the school began its current run of NCAA tournaments, has died at age 67.

Mr. Fitzgerald collapsed Tuesday evening in a restaurant in Airway Heights, Wash.

Mr. Fitzgerald recruited John Stockton to campus, took the Zags to their first NCAA tournament in 1995, and built the coaching staff of Mark Few, Dan Monson, and Bill Grier that has put the Zags in every NCAA tournament since the 1999 season.

Mr. Fitzgerald was 252-171 as coach from 1978 to 1997 and also served as athletic director.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2010/01/21/dan_fitzgerald_coach_guided_gonzaga_team_to_prominence/

[joeybee12]

1. Geesh, that's too bad...

Yeah, he's the one who built the team up...I remember they were the underdog always, now they are one of the favorites each (almost) year.

RIP