Very sad news in Spokane yesterday. Dan Fitzgerald - known universally as Fitz - passed away yesterday at the young age of 67.
He was the architect of what Gonzaga basketball has become. He hired Dan Monson, Mark Few, and Billy Grier and mentored them in what being a basketball coach was all about.
More than that, though, he was a great friend to all who knew him and a wonderful spokesman for the game of basketball. He was one of the most loyal people I ever had the privilege to know. If you ever in your life did a good deed for Fitz, he would never forget you.
He was the man hired to pilot Gonzaga through the transition from the Big Sky Conference to what was then know as the WCAC. He was a Bay Area kid (St. Ignatius, I think) and was an assistant for several years to Carroll Williams at Santa Clara. He was a huge booster for the WCC.
I don't know if any of you ever had the pleasure of meeting him. If so, you can understand my sadness today.
He was the architect of what Gonzaga basketball has become. He hired Dan Monson, Mark Few, and Billy Grier and mentored them in what being a basketball coach was all about.
More than that, though, he was a great friend to all who knew him and a wonderful spokesman for the game of basketball. He was one of the most loyal people I ever had the privilege to know. If you ever in your life did a good deed for Fitz, he would never forget you.
He was the man hired to pilot Gonzaga through the transition from the Big Sky Conference to what was then know as the WCAC. He was a Bay Area kid (St. Ignatius, I think) and was an assistant for several years to Carroll Williams at Santa Clara. He was a huge booster for the WCC.
I don't know if any of you ever had the pleasure of meeting him. If so, you can understand my sadness today.
