Pitt head coach Jeff Capel has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the team’s game against Louisville on Tuesday, the team announced on Saturday afternoon.
Further testing among the Pitt team did not result an any additional positive cases and the team’s game, and the game against the Cardinals is still on with a 7 p.m. tip-off time at Petersen Events Center.
Capel could be replaced by associate head coach Tim O’Toole, though a program spokesperson said no determination on that decision has been made yet. O’Toole was a head coach at Fairfield from 1998-2006. Fellow assistants Milan Brown and Jason Capel also have head coaching experience, Brown with Mount St. Mary’s and Holy Cross and Capel with Appalachian State.
The game against Louisville will be the first Capel has missed since becoming Pitt’s head coach in advance of the 2018-19 season.
Pitt (4-1, 1-0) has not had to miss a game due to COVID-19 protocols this season. The Panthers have six days off between games after facing Louisville, with their next scheduled contest set for Dec. 29 at Duke. The program did not rule out Capel returning for that game.
FAKE VIRUS
Get well soon Coach, we need you on the sideline! I would imagine O’Toole assumes responsibility for the 22nd
There is no “get well soon” if there’s no symptoms…