Jeff Capel
Encyclopedia
Felton Jeff Capel III is an American former college basketball
player at Duke University
and was a head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University
and University of Oklahoma
. He is currently an assistant coach for his alma mater, Duke.
, former assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats
and former head coach at Old Dominion University, and his younger brother Jason
played basketball at Duke's biggest rival, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and is currently head basketball coach at Appalachian State University
. . As a senior at South View High School
in Hope Mills, North Carolina
, Jeff led his team to the 1993 state championship defeating Charlotte powerhouse South Mecklenburg 73–72 with a last second lay-up. He also set school career records in points (2,066), rebounds (668), and assists (663).
for four years. On February 2, 1995 in the regular season game played at home
against UNC, with Duke trailing 95–92 at the end of the first overtime
, Capel hit a running 40-foot shot at the buzzer which sent the game into double overtime. Although Duke lost the game 102–100, Capel's shot was hailed as one of the most memorable plays in Duke basketball history, and it was nominated for an ESPY Award
for College Basketball Play of the Year.
Capel's college career was marked with success. During his years as a Blue Devil
, he racked up 1,601 points, 433 assists, and 220 three-point field goals. He finished his career among Duke's all-time Top 10 in minutes played, three-point field goal percentages, three-point field goals, and assists.
and the CBA
. Capel was also drafted in 1997 by the Raleigh Cougars
of the USBL.
for the 2000–2001 season. In 2001, he joined the coaching staff of Virginia Commonwealth University
as an assistant. He was promoted to head coach of the Rams for the 2002–2003 season—making him, at the time, the youngest head coach in Division I men's college basketball (27 years old). He is now an assistant coach for his alma mater, the Duke University Blue Devils.
to a record number of wins (79) and the highest winning percentage (.658) of any Division I program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Following the 2003–04 season, Capel was named both the Richmond Times-Dispatch and VaSID state Coach of the Year after leading the Rams to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996. Coaching highlights include a near-upset of Wake Forest
in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Surprisingly, one of his toughest opponents was the Division II crosstown rival, Virginia Union University
. Capel's Rams lost two years in a row to the Panthers on VCU's home court. However, he did lead the Rams to a 7–3 record against CAA rival, and former employer, Old Dominion.
In 2005, Capel was named an assistant coach in the USA Men's World University Games Team, joining then Manhattan head coach Bobby Gonzalez
in assisting Villanova
head coach Jay Wright
. The United States won the gold medal in İzmir
, Turkey
, in August.
men's basketball team
, succeeding Kelvin Sampson
. Though the Sooner Nation
as a whole greeted Capel's hiring with optimism, one notable downside of the coaching change emerged—Sampson's departure caused three players who had signed with OU (once considered a top 5 recruiting class) to rethink their decisions to attend OU. Scottie Reynolds
went on to Villanova, where he led his team to the NCAA tournament and Damion James
was a key part to a Texas team which was defeated by Southern California in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
, Villanova
, and Alabama
, the Sooners started a promising 6–3 in conference play, before losing their final 7 conference games. After winning only one game in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, losing to eventual conference tournament champion Kansas, this caused the Sooners to miss any form of postseason play, which snapped the nation's longest streak of 23 consecutive years in the postseason, starting with Billy Tubbs
' second year in 1982 and ending with Kelvin Sampson's final year in 2006.
, the Sooners showed vast signs of improvement and finished 21–10 during the regular season (9–7 in Big 12 play) earning them a #4 seed in the Big 12 Tournament
, where they won one game before losing to Texas
in the semi-finals. They received a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament
, where they defeated St. Joseph's
in the first round before losing to #3 seed Louisville
in the second round.
. Coupled with the signing of another McDonald's All-American guard in Willie Warren
, the 2008-09 season looked to be promising.
The team experienced one of the best starts in school history at 25–1, until Blake Griffin was sidelined with a concussion during the first half of the OU-Texas game on 2/21/09. The Sooners went on to lose consecutive games for the first time all season, losing to Texas by 5 in Austin
and Kansas
by 9 in Norman
. Without their star player, the Sooners fell short. Griffin returned to the lineup on 2/28/09 and the Sooners returned to their winning ways defeating Texas Tech by 15 in Lubbock
on 2/28/09, before losing on the road to Missouri and finishing the regular season by sweeping in-state rival Oklahoma State.
After a first-round bye in the Big 12 Tournament
, the #2 seeded Sooners lost to the #7 seeded Cowboys by 1 point during the final seconds of the game.
Capel's Sooners were granted a #2 seed for the NCAA Tournament, and easily beat #15 seed Morgan State in the first round, #10 seed Michigan in the second round, and #3 seed Syracuse
in the Sweet 16, whose vaunted 2-3 zone defense did nothing to slow down the Sooner's hot shooting from the perimeter.
However, after hitting nine 3-pointers during the previous game with Syracuse, the Sooner guards went 0-15 from beyond the arc during the first 35 minutes of their Elite 8 game against North Carolina
, before finally finishing 2-19 in the game. This ultimately led to their demise by the Tar Heels on March 29, losing 60-72. Blake Griffin
, announced he would forgo his final two years of eligibility to enter the NBA draft
. He was drafted #1 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers and was the University of Oklahoma's first #1 draft pick in the NBA.
With the return of McDonald's All-American and projected NBA Lottery Pick Willie Warren, and the addition of two more McDonald's All-American recruits in Tommie Mason-Griffin & Tiny Gallon, the Sooners were ranked #13 in the pre-season AP Poll and picked to finish 3rd in the Big 12 Conference. Unfortunately, injuries and off-court issues have plagued the Sooners thus far and the team has yet to live up to expectations.
Capel led Oklahoma to a 13-18 record in the 2009-2010 season, the first losing season at Oklahoma since 1981. The Sooners ended the season with nine straight losses, the longest losing streak at Oklahoma in 41 years.
In March 2010, web site TMZ reported that a joint bank account shared by Tiny Gallon and his mother received 3,000 dollars from Merrill Lynch employee Jeffrey Hausinger.
In April 2010, Oklahoma announced the resignation of Capel assistant Oronde Taliaferro.
On March 14, 2011, it was announced that Oklahoma had fired Jeff Capel.
He is now an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Doug Collins as the head coach.
He is now an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Doug Collins as the head coach.
and Edna E. Blue. They wed in 2003. The two had their first child April 26, 2007 by the name of Cameron Isabella Capel.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and was a head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
and University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. He is currently an assistant coach for his alma mater, Duke.
Youth
Capel is from a basketball family. His father is basketball coach Jeff Capel IIJeff Capel II
Jeff Capel II is an assistant National Basketball Association coach, and a former college basketball head coach. He was head coach of the Old Dominion Monarchs team from 1994 to 2001, as well as the North Carolina A&T Aggies from 1993 to 1994 and Fayetteville State University from 1989 to 1993...
, former assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
and former head coach at Old Dominion University, and his younger brother Jason
Jason Capel
Jason Maurice Capel is the 15th and current head coach of the Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team. Capel is the youngest head coach in Division I...
played basketball at Duke's biggest rival, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
and is currently head basketball coach at Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
. . As a senior at South View High School
South View High School
South View High School is a high school in Hope Mills, North Carolina. It is a member of Cumberland County Schools . It serves students from Ninth through Twelfth grade. Adjacent to South View High School is South View Middle School. Enrollment of students is approximately 1900, placing the school...
in Hope Mills, North Carolina
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Hope Mills is a town in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,176 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hope Mills is located at ....
, Jeff led his team to the 1993 state championship defeating Charlotte powerhouse South Mecklenburg 73–72 with a last second lay-up. He also set school career records in points (2,066), rebounds (668), and assists (663).
College career
While at Duke University (1993–1997), he earned a starting position as a freshman and was a starting guard on the basketball teamDuke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
for four years. On February 2, 1995 in the regular season game played at home
Cameron Indoor Stadium
Cameron Indoor Stadium is an indoor arena located on the West Campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. It is home to the Duke Blue Devils men's and women's basketball teams, the women's volleyball team, and the men's wrestling team....
against UNC, with Duke trailing 95–92 at the end of the first overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
, Capel hit a running 40-foot shot at the buzzer which sent the game into double overtime. Although Duke lost the game 102–100, Capel's shot was hailed as one of the most memorable plays in Duke basketball history, and it was nominated for an ESPY Award
ESPY Awards
An ESPY Award is an accolade presented by the American cable television network ESPN to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony. The first ESPYs were awarded in 1993...
for College Basketball Play of the Year.
Capel's college career was marked with success. During his years as a Blue Devil
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
, he racked up 1,601 points, 433 assists, and 220 three-point field goals. He finished his career among Duke's all-time Top 10 in minutes played, three-point field goal percentages, three-point field goals, and assists.
Professional career
Following his graduation from Duke, Capel played professional basketball for two years, playing in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
. Capel was also drafted in 1997 by the Raleigh Cougars
Raleigh Cougars
The Raleigh Cougars was a United States Basketball League team based in Raleigh, North Carolina from 1997 to 1999. The team included many well known players from local colleges. The team played its home games at Dorton Arena.-History:...
of the USBL.
Coaching career
He began his coaching career serving as an assistant coach under his father, Jeff Capel II, at Old Dominion UniversityOld Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
for the 2000–2001 season. In 2001, he joined the coaching staff of Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
as an assistant. He was promoted to head coach of the Rams for the 2002–2003 season—making him, at the time, the youngest head coach in Division I men's college basketball (27 years old). He is now an assistant coach for his alma mater, the Duke University Blue Devils.
Virginia Commonwealth University
In his four years as head coach at VCU, Capel guided the RamsVirginia Commonwealth University Rams
The VCU Rams are the athletic teams of Virginia Commonwealth University that represent the university in college athletics. Members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I, the Rams' eight varsity sports compete in the Colonial Athletic Association...
to a record number of wins (79) and the highest winning percentage (.658) of any Division I program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Following the 2003–04 season, Capel was named both the Richmond Times-Dispatch and VaSID state Coach of the Year after leading the Rams to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996. Coaching highlights include a near-upset of Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference and their homecourt is the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Their only Final Four appearance was in 1962 and through the years they have produced several NBA players. The Demon Deacons have...
in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Surprisingly, one of his toughest opponents was the Division II crosstown rival, Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
. Capel's Rams lost two years in a row to the Panthers on VCU's home court. However, he did lead the Rams to a 7–3 record against CAA rival, and former employer, Old Dominion.
In 2005, Capel was named an assistant coach in the USA Men's World University Games Team, joining then Manhattan head coach Bobby Gonzalez
Bobby Gonzalez
Bobby Gonzalez is the former head coach of the Seton Hall University Pirates men's basketball team. Gonzalez was previously the head coach at Manhattan College and was well known for leading the Jaspers to two NCAA tournaments and the second NCAA tournament win in school history.Gonzalez had...
in assisting Villanova
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
head coach Jay Wright
Jay Wright (coach)
Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright, Jr. is an American basketball coach. He is currently the men's coach at Villanova University. He was born in Churchville, Pennsylvania, U.S., and is married to a former Villanova cheerleader...
. The United States won the gold medal in İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, in August.
University of Oklahoma
On April 11, 2006, Capel was named the head coach of the OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
men's basketball team
Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball
-1908-1980:The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this era, posting only 16 losing records in their first 72 seasons. They were coached by 9 different coaches during this period, beginning with Bennie Owen , and ending with Dave Bliss in 1980...
, succeeding Kelvin Sampson
Kelvin Sampson
Kelvin Sampson is an assistant coach of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. He previously was a men's college basketball coach at Montana Tech , Washington State University , the University of Oklahoma and Indiana University .-Early life and coaching:Sampson was born in the...
. Though the Sooner Nation
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
as a whole greeted Capel's hiring with optimism, one notable downside of the coaching change emerged—Sampson's departure caused three players who had signed with OU (once considered a top 5 recruiting class) to rethink their decisions to attend OU. Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
went on to Villanova, where he led his team to the NCAA tournament and Damion James
Damion James
Damion Marquez Williams James is an American professional basketball player for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA...
was a key part to a Texas team which was defeated by Southern California in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
2006–07
In his first year as head coach, the Sooners finished 16–15. After going 9–4 in non-conference games, with losses to Memphis, PurduePurdue Boilermakers men's basketball
The Purdue Boilermakers basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue basketball holds the record for most Big Ten Championships with 22, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning records...
, Villanova
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
This is the article about the men's basketball team from Villanova University. The team has competed since the 1920–21 season. Nicknamed the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Big East Conference and the Philadelphia Big Five. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA...
, and Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball
The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball program has a history of being among the best of the Southeastern Conference . It trails only Kentucky in basketball wins, SEC tournament titles, and SEC regular season titles in the 12-member conference. The team is coached by head coach Anthony Grant,...
, the Sooners started a promising 6–3 in conference play, before losing their final 7 conference games. After winning only one game in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, losing to eventual conference tournament champion Kansas, this caused the Sooners to miss any form of postseason play, which snapped the nation's longest streak of 23 consecutive years in the postseason, starting with Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs is a former men's college basketball coach. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been the head coach of his alma mater Lamar University , the University of Oklahoma and Texas Christian University .Tubbs was known for his high scoring offense and full-court press defense.Tubbs achieved many...
' second year in 1982 and ending with Kelvin Sampson's final year in 2006.
2007–08
In his second year, after signing McDonald's All-American Forward Blake GriffinBlake Griffin
Blake Austin Griffin is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association . Griffin had a renowned high school career at Oklahoma Christian School, winning state titles each of his four years under his father, Tommy Griffin, who was the...
, the Sooners showed vast signs of improvement and finished 21–10 during the regular season (9–7 in Big 12 play) earning them a #4 seed in the Big 12 Tournament
2008 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship was the 2008 edition of the Big 12 Conference's championship tournament held at the Sprint Center in Kansas City from March 13 until March 16, 2008. It was the 12th Big 12 tournament in the series...
, where they won one game before losing to Texas
Texas Longhorns men's basketball
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference....
in the semi-finals. They received a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament
2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season...
, where they defeated St. Joseph's
Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball
The Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team represents Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Its home court is the Hagan Arena. The team's only Final Four appearance in 1961 was removed from the NCAA records due to a gambling scandal. Through...
in the first round before losing to #3 seed Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
in the second round.
2008–09
Player of the Year Candidate Blake Griffin announced he would be returning for his sophomore season, forgoing a possible lottery-pick status in the NBA Draft2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. Coupled with the signing of another McDonald's All-American guard in Willie Warren
Willie Warren
Willie D. Warren is an American professional basketball player.-High school and college:After a successful high school career at North Crowley High School, Warren was selected to be a McDonalds All-American. He then went to the University of Oklahoma to play on the same team as his later teammate...
, the 2008-09 season looked to be promising.
The team experienced one of the best starts in school history at 25–1, until Blake Griffin was sidelined with a concussion during the first half of the OU-Texas game on 2/21/09. The Sooners went on to lose consecutive games for the first time all season, losing to Texas by 5 in Austin
Frank Erwin Center
Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Special Events Center, commonly known as Frank Erwin Center or UT Erwin Center, is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin...
and Kansas
2008-09 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team
The 2008–09 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team represented the University of Kansas in the 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, the Jayhawks' 111th basketball season. The Head Coach was Bill Self, serving his 6th year...
by 9 in Norman
Lloyd Noble Center
The Lloyd Noble Center is an 11,528-seat multi-purpose arena, in Norman, Oklahoma, United States, some south of downtown Oklahoma City...
. Without their star player, the Sooners fell short. Griffin returned to the lineup on 2/28/09 and the Sooners returned to their winning ways defeating Texas Tech by 15 in Lubbock
United Spirit Arena
United Spirit Arena is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The 15,020-seat arena opened in 1999 and is home to the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball, Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball and Texas Tech Red Raiders women's volleyball teams...
on 2/28/09, before losing on the road to Missouri and finishing the regular season by sweeping in-state rival Oklahoma State.
After a first-round bye in the Big 12 Tournament
2009 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2009 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship was the 13th edition of the Big 12 Conference's championship tournament held at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City from March 11 until March 14, 2009...
, the #2 seeded Sooners lost to the #7 seeded Cowboys by 1 point during the final seconds of the game.
Capel's Sooners were granted a #2 seed for the NCAA Tournament, and easily beat #15 seed Morgan State in the first round, #10 seed Michigan in the second round, and #3 seed Syracuse
2008-09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team
The 2008–09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Head Coach is Jim Boeheim, serving for his 33rd year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York...
in the Sweet 16, whose vaunted 2-3 zone defense did nothing to slow down the Sooner's hot shooting from the perimeter.
However, after hitting nine 3-pointers during the previous game with Syracuse, the Sooner guards went 0-15 from beyond the arc during the first 35 minutes of their Elite 8 game against North Carolina
2008-09 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team
The 2008–09 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Head Coach was Roy Williams. The team played its home games in the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, before finally finishing 2-19 in the game. This ultimately led to their demise by the Tar Heels on March 29, losing 60-72. Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin
Blake Austin Griffin is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association . Griffin had a renowned high school career at Oklahoma Christian School, winning state titles each of his four years under his father, Tommy Griffin, who was the...
, announced he would forgo his final two years of eligibility to enter the NBA draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. He was drafted #1 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers and was the University of Oklahoma's first #1 draft pick in the NBA.
2009–10
Entering his fourth year, Capel's record at OU was 69-33 (0.676) overall, 28-20 (0.583) conference, with 2 NCAA Tournament Appearances, and one Elite Eight appearance. In the Big 12, Capel has yet to win a Conference Tournament Title or Regular Season Title. Capel was averaging 21 wins per season (21-12) and 8 conference wins per season (8-8), thus far almost on track with his predecessors Tubbs & Sampson.With the return of McDonald's All-American and projected NBA Lottery Pick Willie Warren, and the addition of two more McDonald's All-American recruits in Tommie Mason-Griffin & Tiny Gallon, the Sooners were ranked #13 in the pre-season AP Poll and picked to finish 3rd in the Big 12 Conference. Unfortunately, injuries and off-court issues have plagued the Sooners thus far and the team has yet to live up to expectations.
Capel led Oklahoma to a 13-18 record in the 2009-2010 season, the first losing season at Oklahoma since 1981. The Sooners ended the season with nine straight losses, the longest losing streak at Oklahoma in 41 years.
In March 2010, web site TMZ reported that a joint bank account shared by Tiny Gallon and his mother received 3,000 dollars from Merrill Lynch employee Jeffrey Hausinger.
In April 2010, Oklahoma announced the resignation of Capel assistant Oronde Taliaferro.
On March 14, 2011, it was announced that Oklahoma had fired Jeff Capel.
Duke University
On May 8th, 2011, it was announced that Jeff Capel will be joining the staff of Mike Krzyzewski at his alma mater, Duke University, as an Assistant Coach.He is now an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Doug Collins as the head coach.
He is now an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Doug Collins as the head coach.
Personal life
Capel is married to fellow Duke alumna Kanika Réale Blue, daughter of Daniel T. Blue, Jr.Daniel T. Blue, Jr.
Daniel Terry 'Dan' Blue, Jr. is a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate, representing the state's 14th Senate district since his appointment in 2009. He previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1981 through 2002 and from 2006 through his 2009 Senate appointment...
and Edna E. Blue. They wed in 2003. The two had their first child April 26, 2007 by the name of Cameron Isabella Capel.