Pitt basketball head coach Jeff Capel is heading into his seventh year leading the Pitt basketball program, fresh off a 22-win season and a brand-new contract extension.
Now, Capel is looking to take the program to the next level and return to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to the crucial 2024-25 campaign, Capel joined The Pittsburgh Basketball Show to break down his tenure at Pitt.
In the interview, Capel speaks about his offseason, his new contract extension, his relationship with Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke, his current Pitt staff, his time coaching Oklahoma, a key hire that he made at Pitt, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, his father, what motivates him, his “free” offensive scheme, Blake Griffin, Cam Corhen, the Pittsburgh basketball scene, and more.
This offseason, Capel lost last year’s stars Blake Hinson and Bub Carrington to the NBA, but reloaded once again through the transfer portal as well as the international and high school ranks. He brought in transfers Damian Dunn (Houston) and Corhen (Florida State) from the high-major level, as well as freshmen Brandin “Beebah” Cummings, Amdy Ndiaye, and Amsal Delalic — a 6-foot-7 guard from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Weeks ago, Capel received a contract extension, securing his deal as the Pitt men’s basketball head coach through at least 2029-30.
“When Coach Capel initially arrived at Pitt in 2018, he was tasked with one of the most difficult rebuilding jobs in all of college basketball,” Lyke said in a press release. “Jeff fully embraced that challenge from the outset and never wavered from his lofty vision for our players and program. Brick-by-brick, he built a rock-solid foundation that has Pitt basketball poised for a championship future. Jeff is an outstanding leader well beyond the court and we are highly fortunate to have him representing the University of Pittsburgh. I’m incredibly pleased to announce this extension of his contract and look forward to the continued ascendance of Pitt basketball under his direction.”
