Jeff Capel Officially Introduced As Pitt's New Basketball Coach
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Jeff Capel said all the right things on Wednesday after he was introduced as Pitt's new head basketball coach.
Capel said he's "honored, excited and ready to go," and promised to build Pitt back into a championship program.
He is in the process of finalizing his staff and wants Brandin Knight to be a part of it.
Capel won the press conference, which was an important first step, but now he has to win games.
Today was unforgettable! Thanks to everyone who welcomed our family to Pitt! We will show up every day and represent this tremendous program and university at the highest level! No excuses. Pitt Basketball is on the rise. #H2P pic.twitter.com/N4n95MEycC
— Jeff Capel (@jeffcapel) March 29, 2018
He has the credentials and checks all the boxes. He was a head coach at VCU and Oklahoma, and won at both places.
Capel was fired at Oklahoma after the school got into some hot water with the NCAA. He spent the last seven season as Duke's top assistant.
"Duke was necessary for me. It was something that had to happen," he said.
He has a reputation as a big time recruiter, which is obviously something Pitt needs. He has numerous NBA players on his resume, including Blake Griffin.
KDKA-TV Sports' Rich Walsh talked to Capel after his introduction: