Capel Named to Werner Ladder Naismith College Coach of the Year Watch List
2/17/2023 12:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Head coach Jeff Capel is one of 15 coaches named to the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith College Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club Friday afternoon. Pitt is currently 19-7 overall and tied atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings at 12-3 in league play.
The Panthers are one win away from their first 20-win season since 2015-16 and have already collected the most conference wins in a season since joining the ACC. Capel has already engineered an eight-game wins turnaround from a year ago (tied for sixth largest in program history) and a six-game conference wins turnaround that is tied for the second best at Pitt.
Capel is joined on the late season watch list by; Randy Bennett (Saint Mary's), Chris Collins (Northwestern), Mick Cronin (UCLA), Dennis Gates (Missouri), Pat Kelsey (College of Charleston), Dusty May (FAU), Sean Miller (Xavier), Nate Oats (Alabama), T.J. Otzelberger (Iowa State), Matt Painter (Purdue), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Shaka Smart (Marquette), Jerome Tang (Kansas State), and Rodney Terry (Texas).
Pitt has built an outstanding resume during the 2022-23 season rebounding from a 1-3 start to win 18 of its past 22 games. Additional season highlights:
The Panthers return to action Saturday, Feb. 18 with a road game at Virginia Tech (5 p.m. – ACC Network). Pitt concludes its regular season home schedule next week with games against Georgia Tech (Feb. 21) and Syracuse (Feb. 25). Tickets for the final two home games are available HERE.
Candidates not included can still make their way on to the 10 semifinalists list, which will be announced on Thursday, March 9. The Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year award will be narrowed to four finalists on Monday, March 20. The final round includes an opportunity for consumers to participate through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike's, which accounts for 5% of the total vote and runs from March 21-28. The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 2, at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Frost Bank at the Final Four in Houston.
"Each year we are amazed by the remarkable coaching performances that elevate these contenders as candidates for the Werner Ladder Naismith College Men's Coach of the Year," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "The end of the regular season, with tremendous pressure on each game, usually separates those seeking to advance in the next step in our voting."
"Werner Ladder is honored to be a part of highlighting and recognizing these coaches for an incredible season and their outstanding leadership on and off the court," said Stacy Gardella, head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at WernerCo. "Each of these coaches is deserving in their own right, and we are excited to follow them throughout the rest of the season."
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT WERNER LADDER COMPANY
Werner, the official ladder of NCAA® March Madness® and the world leader in ladders, offers a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights. The portfolio includes ladders, attic ladders, scaffolding, pump jacks, stages, planks, stepstools, accessories and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, anchors and compliance kits. From ladders to fall protection, WERNER provides a full line of climbing equipment that's engineered to give you maximum safety, durability and productivity at every height. All Werner products meet or exceed applicable international safety standards. For more information, visit www.wernerladder.com.
The Panthers are one win away from their first 20-win season since 2015-16 and have already collected the most conference wins in a season since joining the ACC. Capel has already engineered an eight-game wins turnaround from a year ago (tied for sixth largest in program history) and a six-game conference wins turnaround that is tied for the second best at Pitt.
Capel is joined on the late season watch list by; Randy Bennett (Saint Mary's), Chris Collins (Northwestern), Mick Cronin (UCLA), Dennis Gates (Missouri), Pat Kelsey (College of Charleston), Dusty May (FAU), Sean Miller (Xavier), Nate Oats (Alabama), T.J. Otzelberger (Iowa State), Matt Painter (Purdue), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Shaka Smart (Marquette), Jerome Tang (Kansas State), and Rodney Terry (Texas).
Pitt has built an outstanding resume during the 2022-23 season rebounding from a 1-3 start to win 18 of its past 22 games. Additional season highlights:
- The Panthers have won a season-best six consecutive games, eight of their past nine contests and 18 of 22 games since Nov. 20. Pitt's 18 wins since Nov. 20 is tied for sixth most in the NCAA (T-3rd among power conference teams) in that span.
- Pitt is 7-2 in true road games, including a 6-1 mark away from home in league play. The Panthers' seven road wins is tied for second most in the NCAA among power conference teams.
- The Panthers are 7-2 against the top half teams in the ACC standings with wins over Virginia, Miami, NC State, Wake Forest, Syracuse, and North Carolina (2x).
- Pitt is 6-2 against teams ranked in the top 50 of ESPN's Men's College Basketball Power Index (BPI). The Panthers are 3-1 in true road games against the top 50.
- The Panthers have five Quad 1 victories (Virginia, Miami, at NC State, at North Carolina, at Northwestern) and two Quad 2 wins (North Carolina, at Syracuse).
- Pitt is second in the ACC and tied for 15th in the NCAA with five Quad 1 victories. The Panthers' .714 winning percentage in Quad 1 games is fifth in the NCAA.
The Panthers return to action Saturday, Feb. 18 with a road game at Virginia Tech (5 p.m. – ACC Network). Pitt concludes its regular season home schedule next week with games against Georgia Tech (Feb. 21) and Syracuse (Feb. 25). Tickets for the final two home games are available HERE.
Candidates not included can still make their way on to the 10 semifinalists list, which will be announced on Thursday, March 9. The Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year award will be narrowed to four finalists on Monday, March 20. The final round includes an opportunity for consumers to participate through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike's, which accounts for 5% of the total vote and runs from March 21-28. The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 2, at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Frost Bank at the Final Four in Houston.
"Each year we are amazed by the remarkable coaching performances that elevate these contenders as candidates for the Werner Ladder Naismith College Men's Coach of the Year," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "The end of the regular season, with tremendous pressure on each game, usually separates those seeking to advance in the next step in our voting."
"Werner Ladder is honored to be a part of highlighting and recognizing these coaches for an incredible season and their outstanding leadership on and off the court," said Stacy Gardella, head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at WernerCo. "Each of these coaches is deserving in their own right, and we are excited to follow them throughout the rest of the season."
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT WERNER LADDER COMPANY
Werner, the official ladder of NCAA® March Madness® and the world leader in ladders, offers a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights. The portfolio includes ladders, attic ladders, scaffolding, pump jacks, stages, planks, stepstools, accessories and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, anchors and compliance kits. From ladders to fall protection, WERNER provides a full line of climbing equipment that's engineered to give you maximum safety, durability and productivity at every height. All Werner products meet or exceed applicable international safety standards. For more information, visit www.wernerladder.com.
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