Jeff Capel will not see his name added to the growing list of Division I men’s college basketball coaches to be fired after the 2025-26 season.
In a letter addressed to “Panther Nation,” Pitt athletic director Allen Green announced that Capel will return for the 2026-27 season, his ninth season leading the Panthers. Capel had been one of several coaches who had their seats hot for much of this season, and has led the Panthers to a 127-127 overall record.
Advertisement
REQUIRED READING: ACC tournament bracket, scores, semifinals schedule: Duke avoids upset
“Over the past several months, I have spent a great deal of time evaluating every aspect of our men’s basketball program. That process included conversations with Coach Capel, a review of our staff and our roster, our program structure and the transfer portal landscape as well as our investment in the program. I consulted with University leadership to ensure we continue to be aligned with our expectations for the program,” Green wrote in the letter.
“After that comprehensive evaluation, I have made the decision that Jeff Capel will continue to lead our men’s basketball program. I believe our best path forward is leadership continuity paired with clear expectations and a willingness to evolve.”
The decision by Green to keep Capel for another season comes two days after the Panthers were eliminated from the ACC tournament with a 98-88 loss to No. 7 seed NC State. Pitt opened the ACC tournament in Charlotte in upset fashion, as they knocked off No. 10 seed Stanford 64-63 thanks to a layup from Damarco Minor with 0.4 seconds left on the game clock.
REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracketology: NCAA tournament bubble picture gets shakeup
Advertisement
Green continued by noting the Panthers’ 13-20 record this season, their fifth losing season under Capel, “well short of our expectations,” given the level of investment the program had that was “sufficient enough” to “reach the NCAA Tournament at a minimum.”
Pitt went 5-13 in the ACC this season, which was good enough for the last seed in the ACC tournament at No. 15. The ACC tournament only includes the top 15 teams in the conference. Of the 13 losses the Panthers took in ACC play this season, one of them came against Boston College, who did not qualify for the 2026 ACC Tournament.
“Effort alone is not enough. We must be better going forward. I know it. Jeff knows it. And you know it,” Green continued. “Jeff and I will continue to examine every aspect of the program and will make the necessary changes.”
Jeff Capel record at Pitt
-
Record: 127-127 overall | 60-92
Advertisement
In eight seasons, Capel has led the Panthers to a .500 overall record at 127-127, and a 60-92 record in ACC play.
The Panthers have only made the NCAA Tournament once under Capel, in the 2022-23 season, when they were the 11-seed in the Midwest Region. After a quarterfinals exit in the ACC tournament, Pitt was sent to Dayton for the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, where they beat Mississippi State in the play-in game of March Madness. From there, the Panthers earned a Round of 64 win against Iowa State before losing to Xavier in the Round of 64.
Pitt has had only three winning seasons so far under Capel: 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. The 24 wins the Panthers won in the 2022-23 season are the most wins they’ve had thus far under Capel.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of how the Panthers have fared under Capel:
Advertisement
-
2022-23: 24-12 overall (NCAA Tournament)
Jeff Capel contract
Capel was awarded a three-year contract extension by former Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke in July of 2024. The extension keeps Capel under contract with the Panthers through at least the 2029-30 season.
His annual compensation for the 2023-2024 season was $3,947,729, according to USA TODAY Sports’ database.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeff Capel gets another season as Pitt basketball head coach
Read the full article here
