Pitt Hires Duke Assistant As New Men's Basketball Coach

PITTSBURGH, PA - The University of Pittsburgh announced Tuesday it has hired Duke associate head coach Jeff Capel as its next head basketball coach.

"Coach Capel is a high-energy leader committed to being a part of our university and the city of Pittsburgh," athletic director Heather Lyke said in a statement. "He has a tremendous basketball pedigree and a
strong track record of recruiting, developing and mentoring high-quality student-athletes. His relentless work ethic, passion for the game and clear vision of how to build a program capable of competing at the
highest levels in the ACC."

Capel previously was the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University and and Oklahoma, leading the Sooners to NCAA tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009. He will replace Kevin Stallings, who was fired March 6.

Capel, 43, has worked under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke for the past seven seasons. According to ESPN, Capel has established himself as one of the best recruiters in college basketball. The Blue Devils have landed the number one class in the country in four of the past five seasons and Capel has been Duke’s top recruiter.

"Pitt just made an amazing hire to lead its men's basketball program," Krzyzewski said in a statement. "Jeff Capel is one of the most dynamic coaches in the country. He possesses championship-level experience as both a head and assistant coach, as well as a distinct knowledge of the Atlantic Coast Conference that will benefit Pitt immediately."

Capel has an overall coaching record of 162-110, compiling a 79-41 marks at VCU and an 83-69 record at Oklahoma. He will be formally introduced Wednesday as Pitt’s new coach.

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