Mode: | Basketball |
Year: | 1980–81 |
Team: | Gonzaga Bulldogs |
Conference: | West Coast Athletic Conference |
Short Conf: | WCAC |
Record: | 19–8 |
Conf Record: | 9–5 |
Hc Year: | 3rd |
The 1980–81 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by 3rd season with head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were overall and played their home games on campus at Kennedy Pavilion in Spokane, Washington.
A loss in the finale to Portland likely cost Gonzaga a berth in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).[1] [2] A 1980 graduate of Gonzaga Prep, point guard John Stockton was a freshman this season.[3]
After the season, athletic director Fitzgerald stepped down as head coach and promoted assistant coach Jay Hillock. Four years later, Fitzgerald returned as head coach,[4] [5] and led the Zags for an additional twelve seasons (fifteen total).