Oklahoma Names Jeff Capel Head Coach

NORMAN, Okla. -- Recognized as a rising star in the collegiate basketball ranks, Jeff Capel was named the 12th men's basketball head coach at Oklahoma on April 11 during a media conference at Oklahoma Memorial Union. The announcement was made by OU President David Boren and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione, with the members of OU's men's basketball team in attendance.

At 31, Capel, who compiled a 79-41 (.658) record over the last four years as head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University, was the third-youngest men's basketball coach in NCAA Division I last year. His squads posted a 50-22 (.694) combined record in Colonial Athletic Association play and a 47-11 overall home record for a staunch .811 winning percentage.

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"As promised, our search process over the last 13 days was thorough, exhaustive and inclusive," said Castiglione.

"Our research on each and every candidate included facts, opinions, observations and, in some cases, direct experiences with those under consideration. If the process, plan and goals are sound, it's exciting and gratifying to see the rising star it can produce. We are fully confident that Jeff Capel will successfully usher in another exciting era of Sooner Basketball and instill the same confidence and passion in his current and future players, as well as Oklahoma fans everywhere.

"We welcome Jeff and his wife Kanika (pronounced "kuh-NEE-kuh") to our Sooner family. We intend to continue on our journey in pursuit of championships but with the same class, dignity and toughness that has defined our program."

Said Boren, "I commend Joe Castiglione on an extremely thorough and comprehensive search which he has conducted. It was the consensus of several of the most knowledgeable experts on college basketball in the country that Jeff Capel is one of the two or three most promising rising stars in collegiate coaching in the United States. As a coach and as a person, he meets the highest standards of excellence and integrity, which are the hallmarks of our university."

In 2003-04, Virginia Commonwealth's Colonial Athletic Association Tournament championship game victory over George Mason catapulted the Rams to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. The Rams lost in the first round to Wake Forest, but not before putting a major scare into the fourth-seeded Demon Deacons, 79-78. Capel's 2004-05 squad, which finished 19-13, competed in the National Invitation Tournament, marking just the third time in program history that VCU made consecutive postseason appearances.

The Rams won at least 18 games each of Capel's four seasons at Virginia Commonwealth with the 2003-04 squad registering a Capel-era-best 23-8 record. His first team finished 18-10 in 2002-03 as Capel tied a school record for wins by a first-year head coach. This past season, VCU finished 19-10 overall and 11-7 in league play.

Last summer, Capel served as an assistant coach on the gold-medal-winning USA Men's World University Games Team that finished 8-0 in Turkey in August. Villanova's Jay Wright was the head coach while Seton Hall's Bobby Gonzalez served as the other assistant. The squad featured, among others, Midwest City (Okla.) High School and Duke University standout Shelden Williams.

"I'm extremely excited for the opportunity to be the head coach of one of the best programs in all of college basketball," said Capel. "I'm honored that Joe Castiglione and President Boren have entrusted me to be the leader of the OU men's basketball program and I'm eager to start working with our student-athletes.

"I'm a young head coach who feels his age is a benefit, not a detriment. I have an energy and a passion for what I do, and I'm prepared for this job. I've always felt honored to be called a coach. I cherish the opportunity I have to impact young men."

Continued Capel, "We have outstanding resources and administrative support at Oklahoma and I look forward to contending for Big 12 and national championships."

Capel began his coaching career as an assistant at Old Dominion University in 2000 before moving to VCU as an assistant for the 2001-02 season. In 2002, he became the youngest NCAA Division I head coach at age 27.

A four-year starter for Hall-of-Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke from the 1993-94 through 1996-97 campaigns, Capel earned Atlantic Coast Conference honors each of his seasons in Durham. The guard, who wore No. 5, averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 3-pointers during his career. He ranks 22nd in career scoring at Duke (1,601 points), 16th in minutes played (3,774), sixth in 3-pointers (220), seventh in 3-point attempts (553), seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (.398) and 10th in assists (433).

Capel started 28 games as a freshman for a Duke squad that lost to Arkansas in the 1994 national championship game, 76-72. He led the Blue Devils in scoring as a junior (16.6 ppg) and helped Duke to a No. 8 final AP ranking as a senior. He averaged 26.5 points over Duke's two NCAA Tournament games his final year, the same season he was named an Academic All-ACC selection.

Responsible for one of the most memorable shots in college basketball history, Capel nailed a running, buzzer-beating 30-footer to force double-overtime against rival North Carolina in a 1995 home game. The contest ranked No. 1 on the list of 25 Greatest Moments in ESPN Basketball History and the play was nominated for an ESPY award.

Following graduation in 1997, Capel played professionally for two years. He spent the 1997-98 season playing for the Continental Basketball Association's Grand Rapids Hoops. In 1999-00, he played in France before returning to Grand Rapids.

A standout prep performer, Capel was named the 1993 North Carolina High School Player of the Year after averaging 23.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists for 31-1 state champion Fayetteville South View. He set school career records for points (2,066), rebounds (668) and assists (663).

Capel boasts a strong basketball pedigree. His father, Jeff Capel Jr., was an eight-year Division I head coach at Old Dominion (seven years) and North Carolina A&T (one year), and currently serves as an assistant coach for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats franchise.

Capel's younger brother, Jason, was a four-year starter at North Carolina who averaged 12.1 points during the 1998-99 through 2001-02 seasons. Jason Capel helped the Tar Heels to the 2000 Final Four.

Capel, who graduated from Duke with a bachelor of arts degree in history, and his wife, Kanika, wed in 2003.

Pending approval of the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, the terms include: a five (5) year term; Base Salary of $200,000 annually; additional and outside income from unrestricted funds of $450,000 annually; and, performance bonuses up to an additional $200,000 annually (the same performance bonuses as the most recent bonus structure for the head coach in men's basketball).

Read Complete Press Conference Transcript

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THE WORD ON CAPEL
"Jeff is an outstanding young coach. He's proven that at Virginia Commonwealth and I am confident that he will do a terrific job at Oklahoma, as well. He and his wife are an amazing couple who will represent the University of Oklahoma with dignity and class. Jeff is one of the best communicators I've known and he will continue the quality tradition of basketball there by building a program suited for long-term success."
- Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski

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"Jeff Capel is a rising star in the coaching world. He's mature beyond his years and grew up around the game. He knows how to teach the game, but he also knows how players want to play it. Jeff brings integrity and knowledge to the process and has a very bright future at Oklahoma. I think the world of him. He's young chronologically, but not upstairs."
- ESPN anlayst Jay Bilas

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"As far as our association is concerned, we have always felt very confident in the process Joe Castiglione was conducting in finding a replacement for Kelvin Sampson. I think this is a great hire. Jeff's record at VCU speaks for itself and I am confident he will do great things at Norman, Okla., and in the Big 12 Conference."
- Black Coaches Association Executive Director Floyd Keith

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"What a great hire for OU. Jeff Capel is quite simply a natural. He has been around the game his whole life and has certainly proven himself as one of the special young coaches in the business. He's the kind of guy you want your son to play for. I'm excited for him and his new challenge at Oklahoma."
- Notre Dame head coach and former Duke assistant coach Mike Brey

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"Jeff Capel has proven he can coach at a high level by being successful in one of the most competitive mid-major conferences in the country. But as we saw this past season the CAA has a collection of high-major teams when it comes time for the postseason. Capel has prepped well for a job like Oklahoma. He comes from strong bloodlines in the business. He's also mature well beyond his age. Joe Castiglione thought out of the box on this one and that shows the confidence that he has in Capel to continue Kelvin Sampson's level of excellence in the Big 12."
- ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz

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“Jeff Capel is a rising star in the coaching profession. He gained valuable experience playing at Duke under Mike Krzyzewski, as well as coaching at the World University Games and at Virginia Commonwealth. He will do a good job for the Sooners. Joe Castiglione is a PTPer among athletic directors and he has done his homework to find a replacement for Kelvin Sampson.”
ESPN analyst Dick Vitale

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THE JEFF CAPEL FILE
Head Coaching History
79-41 (.658) record at Virginia Commonwealth the last four years
50-22 (.694) Colonial Athletic Association record

Year Overall CAA Home Postseason
2002-03: 18-10 overall, 12-6 CAA, 12-3 at home
2003-04: 23-8 overall, 14-4 CAA, 12-2 at home, NCAA Tournament
2004-05: 19-13 overall, 13-5 CAA, 11-4 at home, NIT
2005-06: 19-10 overall, 11-7 CAA, 12-2 at home
Totals: 79-41 overall, 50-22 CAA, 47-11 at home

Assistant Coaching History
2000-01: Assistant coach at Old Dominion
2001-02: Assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth
Summer 2005: Assistant coach for gold-medal-winning USA Men's World University Games Team

Playing History
Four-year starter at Duke University (1993-97)
Two-year professional career in CBA and France

Collegiate Playing Accomplishmants
Averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 3-pointers in 129 career games (106 starts)
Averaged a team-high 16.6 points as a junior in 1995-96 (third team All-ACC selection)
Played in 1994 national championship game as a freshman (lost to Arkansas, 76-72)
Named Academic All-ACC as a senior in 1996-97

Education
Fayetteville (N.C.) South View High School, 1993
Bachelor of arts degree in history, Duke, 1997

Family
Married wife, Kanika, in 2003

Personal
Born Feb. 12, 1975, in Fayetteville, N.C.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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