The Pittsburgh Panthers have seen enough from Head Coach Jeff Capel to know he is the answer to their recent program problems. Duke’s former assistant Head Coach and top recruiter has inked a two-year extension with the Panthers. This could help secure the Panther’s program and renewed recruiting efforts.
Capel Signs Two-Year Extension#ZooEra l #H2Phttps://t.co/HysbFoO0u5
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) January 8, 2020
This extension would keep Capel in Pittsburgh through the 2026-27 season. This could give the head coach potentially near a decade to fully embark on his total rebuild of the team that he took over for in 2018. His first season saw the Panthers with a 14-19 record which was better than expected for the newly established Head Coach. The recruiting effort by Capel for Pittsburgh had also seen a stark improvement since he took over.
The Panthers are currently 10-4 and have a chance to get a statement win against a very hobbled North Carolina team in Chapel Hill. Pittsburgh has seen an increase in success on the court and in attendance. Kevin Stalling’s last year in Pittsburgh had attendance just over 4,000 and now the Panthers are averaging just over 8,000.
Five-star guard Jalen Hood-Schifino just verbally committed to Pittsburgh, he tells @247Sports. Ranks No. 25 overall in the 2022 recruiting class.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) December 30, 2019
There are some risks for the Panthers with Capel, but the problem may not arise for a few years. The Pittsburgh Head Coach is considered to be on the shortlist to take over for Mike Krzyzewski when he decides to retire. There are some other options to replace the Duke Head Coach, but if Capel is picked it is hard to imagine him turning down his playing and coaching alma mater. Pittsburgh has their man for now and hopes to become a serious threat in the ACC within a few years.
