COEUR D'ALENE, Id. — Bodycam video from a Coeur d’Alene, Idaho police officer shows the moment Gonzaga University’s head basketball coach was pulled over.
Mark Few was arrested for suspicion of DUI on Labor Day evening on Sept. 6.
A police report stated that Few exhibited “several signs of intoxication” and that he refused to complete field sobriety tests. Few provided breath samples of .119 and .120, which are above the legal limit of .08, the report stated.
>>Gonzaga coach Mark Few pleads guilty to DUI, fined $1,000
Few was then taken to the hospital for a blood test. He was met by a Coeur d’Alene police sergeant who gave Few a citation instead of putting him in jail after learning who Few was.
“My name’s Joe, I’m a sergeant with the Couer d’Alene PD. I’m the supervisor tonight – I just became obviously aware of, you know. Sorry we’re meeting this way. The officer who you’ve been dealing with didn’t know your name to the extent of who you are,” the sergeant is heard saying on his bodycam video. “There’s no reason we need to book him for jail so let’s just give him a citation.”
Few was ordered to pay a fine and complete 24 hours of community service along with a three-game suspension after pleading guilty to DUI.
Peter Woodbrook is a blogger who follows Gonzaga men’s basketball. He said Few’s punishment matched up with some Gonzaga players who have had problems. He said Few was suspended for Gonzaga’s two exhibition games to start the season as well as the team’s non-conference season opener.
While it was consistent punishment, Woodbrook said he understands why some people believe Few should be held to a higher standard.
“The bigger message would have been to also include the second game of the season which is against Texas. The athletic department made the decision. Mark Few has been contrite and apologetic. I think he has really owned up to his poor judgement call,” said Woodbrook.
On Twitter, reaction was critical on how Few was handled.
One tweet referenced “different rules for the rich and famous.”
In a statement from earlier this month, Gonzaga athletics director Chris Standiford said:
“Coach Few’s statements regarding full accountability are a reflection of his character and consistent with his demonstrated leadership approach over two decades. Even as the university continues to work through and address this matter with coach Few, I continue to have full faith and confidence in his leadership of this program.”
The incident came at a time when Gonzaga sits atop the college basketball universe. Fresh off a dramatic run to the finals last season, Gonzaga is now ranked number one in the Associated Press preseason poll.
Woodbrook said he doesn’t think the incident will impact the team’s performance, but it does loom over the season.
“Prior to Mark Few’s DUI, he had a pristine and clean record and he doesn’t now, (but) he’s still an amazing community member. He does a lot of things for the greater Spokane region. This one incidence doesn’t make him a horrible human being, but no matter what, it is a blight on his record. It is something he will have to live with,” said Woodbrook.
KIRO 7 asked for a comment from the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. Sgt. Jared Reneau said there are variables they have to weigh in each DUI stop. The department said it tries to judge aspects like is another crime being committed or if the person is a flight risk. The department did say the majority of DUIs with circumstances similar to Mark Few’s end in a citation and suspects are released, but that is not accurate for all DUI stops.
Few has been the head coach for the Bulldogs for 22 seasons and is 630-125 in his career. Gonzaga lost to Baylor in the national championship game last April.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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