Inside The Panthers

Pitt HC Jeff Capel Now Front Runner for ACC Coach of the Year

Pitt Panthers head coach Jeff Capel is emerging as a leader for ACC Coach of the Year.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt HC Jeff Capel Now Front Runner for ACC Coach of the Year
Pitt HC Jeff Capel Now Front Runner for ACC Coach of the Year /
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PITTSBURGH -- This men's basketball season in the ACC has seen a large portion of the conference's middle class ride above their typical standing in the league. The Pitt Panthers, alongside Clemson, Miami and NC State have climbed to the top of the league standings after years at the bottom. 

CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein published his regular season awards picks this week and he affirmed an earlier endorsement for Pitt's Jeff Capel, but didn't put any Panthers on his first-team all-conference ballot. ACC Network's Wes Durham was all in on Capel for Coach of the Year as well. 

Durham said he respects the work that Clemson's Brad Brownell and Duke's Jon Scheyer have done so far this year, but thinks Capel is the runaway favorite for best coach in the league. 

“Easily, in my mind," Durham said about Capel's Coach of the Year chances. "I thought Brad Brownell at Clemson has done a terrific job. They were picked 10th in the preseason. I think Jon Scheyer’s work is really underrated. ... But for me Jeff is an easy pick for Coach of the Year. I haven’t talked to anyone who hasn’t voted for him. I’ll put it that way.”

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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