PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Jeff Capel remembers a couple of years ago when they were getting hammered at home against Georgia Tech. His family was at the game and some in the crowd started ‘Fire Capel’ chants.
It was a tough day, after a few tough years, as Capel tried to lead the Panthers program back from a depth of the 2017-18 season where they finished 0-18 in the ACC. He was 41-69 after four seasons and wondered himself if he would continue as head coach.
“It was hard for people to believe and I get it,” Capel said on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday. “A lifelong sports fan and person that’s been involved with it, I thoroughly understand it. I have a better feel and idea of the city now. I’m really grateful that the powers that be gave us a chance.”
And they continue to do so, Capel said the contract extension through the 2029-30 season announced on Wednesday has been in the works since the end of the season. He’s grateful to Chancellor Joan Gabel, Director of Athletics Heather Lyke and others for having his back when they could have made a change.
“There were some things that I said after year four that I really regretted,” Capel recalled. “I regret it now. I apologized to the guys who came back from that team. We believed in each other and we believed in what we were doing.”
“I love the fact that we stayed the course, put our head down and we worked. We were able to get the right pieces and coach them really hard and show them love.”
Pitt is 46-23 in the last two years, returned to the AP Top 25 and the NCAA Tournament.
During the interview on 93.7 The Fan, Capel said ‘we’ and ‘us’ multiple times and what he meant by those pronouns is himself and the coaching staff.
“I’m incredibly grateful for them,” Capel said. “Two years ago, there was a lot of talk that I need to change my staff, change some things. There were shots taken at my brother in particular. I believed. We believed.”
“I’m Incredibly thankful to our players. This absolutely would not happen without them. All of the guys that we’ve coached, especially the last few years.”
“The fans who stuck with us. We had a lot of challenges and did not have success early. It was incredible growth. I was able to grow and learn a lot and really, to be honest with you, find out who is with me. Who has my back and who is really with us?”
“After year four things looked bleak and I understand why people were upset. There was no one more upset than me. I feel honored, fortunate and blessed to be in the position that we are in. I really like the direction we are headed.”
There have been challenges and Capel admits as much. Players who left or were kicked out of the program, nearly landing other players, tough losses, the NCAA Tournament selection committee not picking them last season. He said the reason they have been able to overcome is the character in the program.
Capel tells 93.7 The Fan Pitt has a great core of players coming back and he’s really excited about the season and the direction the program is going.
There was one at least one moment during this rebuild that stuck with Capel. It was when the Panthers outscored Virginia Tech by 15 in the second half at home in February of this year to win by 15. The Petersen Events Center was rocking with over 12,000 fans and Pitt improved to 18-9 on the season.
“This past year when we beat Virginia Tech at home at the handshake line, Mike Young, a really good coach and man, when we shook hands, he brought me in,” Capel told 93.7 The Fan. “‘Man, it’s amazing what you’ve done’.”
The credit rides with all according to Capel. The fans, players, coaches, athletic department staff, every single person who stood with them.
Jeff Capel will be Pitt’s head coach through the rest of the decade. What a comeback.
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