Yes, and the alumni office was flooded with calls and emails protesting the hire.
The school has admittedly gone downhill after replacing Fr. Bob Spitzer, who retired as President a couple of years ago. Gonzaga's growth over the last ten years was due to a combination of Bob's leadership, and the success of the basketball team.
Over forty years later, the campus is still a magical place to me. I loved my four years there, and remain in contact with dozens of alumni almost daily. I received an incredible education there, and it was the springboard that took me to places I never could have conceived when I matriculated.
My wife and I visited Spokane 15 years ago. It took her less than two days on campus to announce our daughter would follow her dad, if that was her choice. Unfortunately, my daughter heard too many stories of the hours I put in to graduate in four years...lol.
I have a 14 YO son a 6 YO grandson, both who would thrill me if they were accepted there. Fortunately, we have the assets to send them both, without need of student loans.
My dad went to Gonzaga; I went to Seattle U, which is hardly recognizable as a Catholic institution anymore. A higher percentage of SU faculty voted for Obama than did University of Washington faculty (among those responding to a survey).