The clock on Capel

[Sean Miller Fan]

Assuming we finish 6-10 or worse, I'm ready to say Year 4 should be his last if:

- we have another bad season
- the 2022 class isnt good

Capel was brought here to recruit and he has done a poor job of that and its getting worse as the 2021 class may be the worst in the ACC (if there is a 2021 class that is). His coaching isnt adding value. If next year is bad and his 2022 class is looking like it wont be good, it may be time to cut bait.

 

[FireballZ]

Assuming we finish 6-10 or worse, I'm ready to say Year 4 should be his last if:

- we have another bad season
- the 2022 class isnt good

Capel was brought here to recruit and he has done a poor job of that and its getting worse as the 2021 class may be the worst in the ACC (if there is a 2021 class there is). His coaching isnt adding value. If next year is bad and his 2022 class is looking like it wont be good, it may be time to cut bait.

Rarely agree. Capel couldn’t even keep the only two dudes worth keeping for the stallings debacle.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

There’s no clock on JC he has a very long term contract and Heather will give him all the time he needs ....period .

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

Assuming we finish 6-10 or worse, I'm ready to say Year 4 should be his last if:

- we have another bad season
- the 2022 class isnt good

Capel was brought here to recruit and he has done a poor job of that and its getting worse as the 2021 class may be the worst in the ACC (if there is a 2021 class there is). His coaching isnt adding value. If next year is bad and his 2022 class is looking like it wont be good, it may be time to cut bait.

The 21 class isn’t any good though according to Vader! And we have magical 22 reclasses coming!

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

There’s no clock on JC he has a very long term contract and Heather will give him all the time he needs ....period .

Unfortunately none of us will be alive to see that much time

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I’m over it
He reshuffles his staff he buys 2 years
He goes ride or die with brother and brown -
He needs to go after next season

 

[balboa10]

There’s no clock on JC he has a very long term contract and Heather will give him all the time he needs ....period .

though he might need to change his staff

 

[Eastern Eight]

There’s no clock on JC he has a very long term contract and Heather will give him all the time he needs ....period .

Disagree. Starting next year attendance starts mattering again. If one year from now we are in the exact same place, things will start to become tenuous for Capel. I think five years is likely, but he's not getting a lifetime appointment.

 

[PittPoker]

Mark it down I'll post it here. Capel will be gone after the 2022-2023 season. This is sadly the ceiling with this guy. He is not a good coach. He is a good person. Unfortunately being a good person won't bring this program wins or tournament appearances. It's painfully obvious he is outmatched and outclassed by most coaches. His gameplanning is subpar, his strategy to me is confusing at best. Him and his staff don't make many adjustments at all while other coaches seemingly do it without blinking an eye. And his teams are undisciplined. hell he all but admitted it today after the game when he said he hasn't been able to reach Xavier and stop him from overreacting and acting out of control and undisciplined. Not a good look.

We'll be lucky to win another game this season so that will be yet another late season meltdown from a Capel coached team. Next year will be the same or worse and because I'm sure Heather gives him a 5th season it will be more rinse and repeat.

So after 5 seasons Heather will buy him out and I think it's time for Brandin Knight to coach here. I'm 100% convinced now Capel is not gonna turn this program around. Okay maybe 90% convinced. Still not liking where this program is headed. Now lost 6 of 7 after starting 8-2 and 4-1 in the conference. Currently 9-8 and 5-7. Just pathetic. Program sadly is going nowhere but down again.

 

[Ronnyp91]

Tick tock.

 

[levance2]

I think he gets 5 years no matter what.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Disagree. Starting next year attendance starts mattering again. If one year from now we are in the exact same place, things will start to become tenuous for Capel. I think five years is likely, but he's not getting a lifetime appointment.

I would agree 5 years is likely but a combination of a bad 2022 season and bad 2022 class pretty much means its never going to happen here for him so we should just move on after Year 4.

I hear a lot about his staff but his original sin was thinking he can be the "main recruiter." I mean, yea, all HCs are the main recruiter but what I mean is he didn't hire an ace recruiter on his staff because he thought he didn't need one. Its apparent that he does. Say what you want about Capel's coaching. He's not a bad coach, he's mediocre. He just needs better players.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Unfort

though he might need to change his staff

That’s a possibility, Heathers not giving up on her first major hire with 5-6 yrs left on his contract .

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

The 21 class isn’t any good though according to Vader! And we have magical 22 reclasses coming!

Yea but transfers and JC guys. I’m sure they’ll be flocking here.

 

[NTOP]

There’s no clock on JC he has a very long term contract and Heather will give him all the time he needs ....period .

Then fire her. We need better. He has a 5 year contract, right? Will you want him back if next year is worse?

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Then fire her. We need better.

I want nationally competitive teams and so does every other poster on this board the problem is that we don’t count and those that do don’t share those desires .

 

[NTOP]

I want nationally competitive teams and so does every other poster on this board the problem is that we don’t count and those that do don’t share those desires .

So vote with our wallet.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

So vote with our wallet.

I doubt that anything has changed since the universty terminated the Golden Panthers years ago . Pitt wants to play it straight and by the rules and we all know that no ones coming in here and instantly turning this program around without the help of influential friends . JC will make Pitt better it just won’t happen as fast as we all want and better most likely means middle of the pack ACC .

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

If Capel has four consecutive losing seasons and an average 2022 recruiting class signed the plug will be pulled.

 

[JD1976]

Mark it down I'll post it here. Capel will be gone after the 2022-2023 season. This is sadly the ceiling with this guy. He is not a good coach. He is a good person. Unfortunately being a good person won't bring this program wins or tournament appearances. It's painfully obvious he is outmatched and outclassed by most coaches. His gameplanning is subpar, his strategy to me is confusing at best. Him and his staff don't make many adjustments at all while other coaches seemingly do it without blinking an eye. And his teams are undisciplined. hell he all but admitted it today after the game when he said he hasn't been able to reach Xavier and stop him from overreacting and acting out of control and undisciplined. Not a good look.

We'll be lucky to win another game this season so that will be yet another late season meltdown from a Capel coached team. Next year will be the same or worse and because I'm sure Heather gives him a 5th season it will be more rinse and repeat.

So after 5 seasons Heather will buy him out and I think it's time for Brandin Knight to coach here. I'm 100% convinced now Capel is not gonna turn this program around. Okay maybe 90% convinced. Still not liking where this program is headed. Now lost 6 of 7 after starting 8-2 and 4-1 in the conference. Currently 9-8 and 5-7. Just pathetic. Program sadly is going nowhere but down again.

For the 1000th time Brandin Knight is not qualified! He is not even the top assistant at Rutgers.

He was a great player here and we all owe him a debt of gratitude for his on-court accomplishments, but this is just nonsense to insinuate that he could be a head coach at this point.

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

For the 1000th time Brandin Knight is not qualified! He is not even the top assistant at Rutgers.

He was a great player here and we all owe him a debt of gratitude for his on-court accomplishments, but this is just nonsense to insinuate that he could be a head coach at this point.

This is among the dumbest arguments to not hire a guy. Mike Tomlin was a defensive backs coach with ONE year of being a defensive coordinator before being hired at one of 32 head NFL jobs at 34. A guy either has it or he doesn’t. Doesn’t matter what seat he’s in. Who should we hire? A 55 year old white guy who has paid his dues? He was the top guy here for a LONG time, but because almighty Rutgers doesn’t have him as the top guy he’s not qualified to coach? Absurd

 

[rockypanther]

I think he gets 5 years no matter what.

We can’t afford to buy him out and pay another new coach $4mill plus. I think Capel isn’t doing a good job and I am not optimistic. But there is zero chance Heather will fire him in the next 3-4 years. Zero chance. Can’t afford it. And most of us are all still saying the same stuff about Narduzzi and him almost needing to be gone. We just don’t have the money. Especially after Stallings buyout.

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

We can’t afford to buy him out and pay another new coach $4mill plus. I think Capel isn’t doing a good job and I am not optimistic. But there is zero chance Heather will fire him in the next 3-4 years. Zero chance. Can’t afford it. And most of us are all still saying the same stuff about Narduzzi and him almost needing to be gone. We just don’t have the money. Especially after Stallings buyout.

THREE TO FOUR YEARS? Seriously? Good lord. Can we at least start a golden Pantherlair fund and try to buy some guys?

 

[pittizit]

Then fire her. We need better. He has a 5 year contract, right? Will you want him back if next year is worse?

Nope he should go now in my opinion

 

[FIVE4PITT]

This coach will be gone if next year is just as bad. The team always mentions lack of effort as an excuse for a loss. The players arent improving. He can't get through to the point guard. No depth at the center position or bigs. Recruiting next year is a question mark. The program is not getting better. It shouldn't take this long in basketball to turn it around.

 

[JD1976]

This is among the dumbest arguments to not hire a guy. Mike Tomlin was a defensive backs coach with ONE year of being a defensive coordinator before being hired at one of 32 head NFL jobs at 34. A guy either has it or he doesn’t. Doesn’t matter what seat he’s in. Who should we hire? A 55 year old white guy who has paid his dues? He was the top guy here for a LONG time, but because almighty Rutgers doesn’t have him as the top guy he’s not qualified to coach? Absurd

Terrible analogy. There are 360+ D1 programs. There is a gigantic pool of candidates who have been the CEO, face of the franchise, top X’s and O’s guy, whatever you want to call it. It would be foolish and laughable for an ACC program to hire a guy sitting in the 3rd chair somewhere.

And yeah, he was the top guy here during a 3-4 year period when the program fell from its lofty heights. Why didn’t Dixon take him to TCU? Why didn’t some other P6 hire him as a top assistant in the last 5 years? Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

I love Brandin Knight, the player. I would love Brandin Knight the coaching candidate too if and when he goes to Iona, Siena or some MAAC or America East program and proves that he can be a successful coach. The ACC is no place for on the job training.

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

Terrible analogy. There are 360+ D1 programs. There is a gigantic pool of candidates who have been the CEO, face of the franchise, top X’s and O’s guy, whatever you want to call it. It would be foolish and laughable for an ACC program to hire a guy sitting in the 3rd chair somewhere.

And yeah, he was the top guy here during a 3-4 year period when the program fell from its lofty heights. Why didn’t Dixon take him to TCU? Why didn’t some other P6 hire him as a top assistant in the last 5 years? Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

I love Brandin Knight, the player. I would love Brandin Knight the coaching candidate too if and when he goes to Iona, Siena or some MAAC or America East program and proves that he can be a successful coach. The ACC is no place for on the job training.

Jamie tried to take him to TCU and Brandin had no desire to move away from the northeast. Two years ago, Bruce Pearl tried to hire him at Auburn to get in good with AOT, Atlanta’s best AAU program, and his nephew Sharife Cooper. The gesture got bruce in good with AOT anyways.

Funny you mention Jamie. Before he took over Pitt, he must’ve had years of being a head coach or extensive experience as a associate head coach at a high major. nah? Neither? Gotcha.

Im not even advocating hiring BK. But to dismiss his candidacy based on where he currently is dumb.

 

[PittPoker]

For the 1000th time Brandin Knight is not qualified! He is not even the top assistant at Rutgers.

He was a great player here and we all owe him a debt of gratitude for his on-court accomplishments, but this is just nonsense to insinuate that he could be a head coach at this point.

I'm sure you said the same about Jamie when he was considered to take over here when Howland left. You really think that low of him? Not right dude, I think Brandin has paid his dues and deserves a shot.

 

[PittPoker]

THREE TO FOUR YEARS? Seriously? Good lord. Can we at least start a golden Pantherlair fund and try to buy some guys?

Yeah no way 3-4 years. I definitely think he gets 2 more though no matter what. If Pitt still looks this bad in 2 more seasons or worse there is NOOOO WAY Heather can justify bringing him back for a 6th year.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

I'm sure you said the same about Jamie when he was considered to take over here when Howland left. You really think that low of him? Not right dude, I think Brandin has paid his dues and deserves a shot.

He probably will get a shot at some point. I don’t know if he’d be good for the Pitt job or not but typically the first shot would be at a bit of a lower level. Again I’m not saying he should or shouldn’t be hired if Capel goes. But it’s a big step - bigger than normal.

 

[TheLogicalTake]

Terrible analogy. There are 360+ D1 programs. There is a gigantic pool of candidates who have been the CEO, face of the franchise, top X’s and O’s guy, whatever you want to call it. It would be foolish and laughable for an ACC program to hire a guy sitting in the 3rd chair somewhere.

And yeah, he was the top guy here during a 3-4 year period when the program fell from its lofty heights. Why didn’t Dixon take him to TCU? Why didn’t some other P6 hire him as a top assistant in the last 5 years? Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

I love Brandin Knight, the player. I would love Brandin Knight the coaching candidate too if and when he goes to Iona, Siena or some MAAC or America East program and proves that he can be a successful coach. The ACC is no place for on the job training.

I’ve got nothing but respect for Brandin and do think he’ll be a very good coach, but I agree totally here. Assuming the Capel era ends poorly, we’ll have been 0-2 on our last two hires. Quite frankly, they absolutely have to get the next one right. If/When the time comes, we need to get someone who has proven they can run a program, preferably a proven builder as well. This program needs an exorcism and we’re not in a position to gamble

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I’ve got nothing but respect for Brandin and do think he’ll be a very good coach, but I agree totally here. Assuming the Capel era ends poorly, we’ll have been 0-2 on our last two hires. Quite frankly, they absolutely have to get the next one right. If/When the time comes, we need to get someone who has proven they can run a program, preferably a proven builder as well. This program needs an exorcism and we’re not in a position to gamble

I was dead set against this guy but seeing Mike Young build a program from scratch and take VT to the tourney in 2 years, I am digging Mark Schmidt right now. He wins in an impossible place to do so. He's an older coach, which fans dont like but its probably what we need. He'd like our Young/Larranaga.

 

[Pittnerski]

He actually has a 7 year contract

 

[PittPoker]

He actually has a 7 year contract

Right so he gets 5 years and Heather buys him out after that.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Right so he gets 5 years and Heather buys him out after that.

That is the most realistic. He certainly isnt getting Year 6 after 5 straight losing seasons.

 

[cruzer]

There’s no clock on JC he has a very long term contract and Heather will give him all the time he needs ....period .

Maybe the clock should be on Heather.

 

[gary2]

For the 1000th time Brandin Knight is not qualified! He is not even the top assistant at Rutgers.

He was a great player here and we all owe him a debt of gratitude for his on-court accomplishments, but this is just nonsense to insinuate that he could be a head coach at this point.

Guarantee Brandin produces a team that gives great effort.

That would be a good place to start.

Gotta feel Brandin can identify and recruit what we need at the point.

Place to go next.

 

[JD1976]

I'm sure you said the same about Jamie when he was considered to take over here when Howland left. You really think that low of him? Not right dude, I think Brandin has paid his dues and deserves a shot.

I figured this would come up. Not an apples-to-apples comparison. There are examples out there of sitting top assistants who have been elevated to maintain continuity in top programs, which was the case with Jamie. Greg Gard comes to mind. Going way back we have Bill Guthridge and Craig Escherick. Those didn’t work out in hindsight, but at the time they did make sense.

When is the last time that an ACC program hired an assistant coach with no prior HC experience to be a head coach? I can’t remember one. You really think this program is ready to be turned over to someone with zero HC experience once Capel is gone? Personally that is crazy to me and I can bet the farm that it will be crazy to Heather or whoever is making the next hire too.

 

[PittPoker]

I figured this would come up. Not an apples-to-apples comparison. There are examples out there of sitting top assistants who have been elevated to maintain continuity in top programs, which was the case with Jamie. Greg Gard comes to mind. Going way back we have Bill Guthridge and Craig Escherick. Those didn’t work out in hindsight, but at the time they did make sense.

When is the last time that an ACC program hired an assistant coach with no prior HC experience to be a head coach? I can’t remember one. Steve Robinson maybe? That was 20 years ago. You really think this program is ready to be turned over to someone with zero HC experience once Capel is gone? Personally that is crazy to me and I can bet the farm that it will be crazy to Heather or whoever is making the next hire too.

I would bet that Brandin will be considered 1 of the top candidates once Capel is gone.

 

[levance2]

That is the most realistic. He certainly isnt getting Year 6 after 5 straight losing seasons.

I still feel like there's a chance he could interview at some mid-major in North Carolina and finish out his career. He's a good dude and could no doubt shape a lot of lives, he just can't seem to hack it in P5.

Hell, put his money where his mouth is and go coach at a HBCU. He might actually be able to recruit better to an HBCU than Pitt.