Pitt rewards Jeff Capel with contract extension through 2026-27

Pitt on Wednesday made an impressive commitment to basketball coach Jeff Capel, announcing a two-year contract extension that carries him through the 2026-27 season.

Capel, who was hired to replace Kevin Stallings after the 2017-18 season, took a Pitt team that was 8-24 and winless in the ACC and led the Panthers to a 14-19 record (3-15 in the conference) last season.

Pitt has opened the 2019-20 season with a 10-4 record (1-2 ACC), including a victory against No. 10 Florida State, which has lost just one other game among its first 15.

“I am grateful for the commitment chancellor (Patrick) Gallagher and director of athletics Heather Lyke have made to the Pitt men’s basketball program and to me,” Capel said in a statement from Chapel Hill, N.C., where his team is scheduled to play Wednesday night against North Carolina.

“We have outstanding leadership and support at the University of Pittsburgh. I am excited about the direction of our basketball program as we continue to build a sustainable winning culture in the Atlantic Coast Conference. We will continue to give 100% of ourselves as we represent Pitt on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”

Capel has a career record of 186-133, including coaching stops at VCU and Oklahoma. He led the Sooners to a 30-win season and the Elite Eight in 2008-09. He came to Pitt after spending seven seasons (2011-2018) as an assistant at Duke, where he was a four-year starter under coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“The Pittsburgh community has embraced my family and me, and we look forward to deepening our roots here,” Capel continued in his statement. “We are extremely appreciative to be part of the City of Champions.”

Lyke said in a statement: “In a short time, I have seen coach Capel and his staff provide Pitt basketball with the opportunity to succeed at the highest level because of their work ethic, basketball acumen and belief in building this program the right way with the right people.

“What has impressed me most with coach Capel is the genuine relationships he has developed with our student-athletes and he and his staff’s ability to make our student-athletes better players and people. These relationships are an early indicator of the long-term success they will have together. Coach Capel believes in setting great expectations and building it the right way to ensure sustained success. There is no question coach Capel is recruiting the highest level talent and tremendous individuals who will succeed as players and students at Pitt.

“I have also seen coach Capel embrace this program and the city of Pittsburgh, and our city has embraced him in return. I am thrilled to announce an extension for coach Capel’s contract through the 2026-27 season and know we are committed to helping him build his legacy at Pitt.”

Get the latest news about Pitt football and all things Panthers athletics.