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Abby Schnable's Pitt sports chat: 03.10.26
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Abby Schnable
1:00
Hello hello! Welcome back to another live chat. Excited to get to your questions.
Mr Ed
1:00
I’ve come around to thinking Pitt should keep Capel for another year due to the following: (1)if you have enough donor money to buy him out use it instead on the portal(point guard and big man) and retaining couple key returnees. Coupled with incoming frosh class could have quick turnaround;( 2) kids playing hard and better recently right to the end is credit to him; (3)doubtful if they buy him out are they really going to have enough money left to attract high quality replacement and spend on portal? What would be your decision on him Abby?
Abby Schnable
1:03
The one big problem is it seems donors don’t want to pony up NIL money for a Pitt team led by Jeff Capel. That’s why it appears the money has been raised for his buyout, but that same level of funding never really showed up for NIL — or that we're aware of at least.

That said, I’ve never thought Capel was an awful coach. He’s shown he can build a culture and get players to buy in — you saw that with the NCAA tournament team a couple years ago, and even recently this group has continued to play hard for him.

The bigger issues right now are talent and some in-game management. And like you said, if you’re spending millions on a buyout, that cuts into what you’d need to hire a strong replacement and fund the roster through the portal.

I’d probably lean toward keeping him another year, but it does feel like some donors are over it, and if that’s the case the decision might already be made.
Leemarvinwannab
1:03
Will Pitt go after an up and comer or look for a name?
Abby Schnable
1:05
I think it’ll be hard for Pitt to attract a big-name coach for either job given the level of support the basketball programs appear to have right now. Because of that, I’d expect them to look more at up-and-comers.

For WBB, that might mean someone a little more under the radar but with a track record of success. For MBB, I think it’s more realistic they target a high-performing mid-major coach.

The name that keeps coming up is Jerrod Calhoun from Utah State  — that type of level is probably the range I’d expect.
Chris G.
1:05
Enjoyed following Pitt Athletics through your fine work all season. I realize the buyout is a large obstacle in the potential replacement of Jeff Capel. With that in mind and also the reported excellent incoming class next year, what percentage does your gut tell you that he will be retained?
Abby Schnable
1:08
I’d say my gut is around 15% that Jeff Capel is retained. Unless Pitt makes a pretty miraculous run in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, I don’t expect him to be back.

From what I’ve heard, the money for the buyout has largely been put together, so it feels more like a matter of time than anything else.
RJ
1:08
I would like to see Capel back for one more season and see,once and for all, what he can do with some of the talent they have coming next season. What have your heard on Cardiac Hill, Abby ?
Abby Schnable
1:09
Honestly, I haven’t heard great things regarding Jeff Capel’s future at Pitt. If the Panthers lose today in the ACC tournament, I wouldn’t be surprised if an announcement about his future comes soon.
Jock sutherland
1:09
What names are you hearing about Pitt VB adding this summer?
Abby Schnable
1:12
I haven’t heard any specific names for Pitt this summer. I know they were looking at Italian middle blocker Islam Gunnar, but I’m not sure if that's still happening after they added Maaike Heilig.

In terms of positions, I wouldn’t be surprised if they add another middle and/or a libero to round out the roster.
BIg Steel
1:12
Does Pitt have a chance today?
Abby Schnable
1:15
Oh, definitely. This is a Stanford team that Pitt kept close with on the road just two weeks ago. Yes, the game slipped away at the end, but Pitt’s been playing better basketball lately — they’re executing more consistently, shots are falling, and the energy has picked up. A key factor will be limiting Ebuka Okorie, who’s a major force inside. If Pitt can contain him, control turnovers, and crash the boards, they absolutely have a shot to pull off a win today.
John Capel
1:25
HI Abby-Paul Zeise recently said that Capel's buyout is in the $16M dollar range. If that is true that is one of the most ridiculous things I have heard and the directors and administrators who signed off on that should be relieved of their duties (some have I know). My question is if booster's don't provide the money who pays for that ultimately? taxpayers? students? If taxpayers are on the hook for that does the state have means to investigate? it seems fraudulent or at the very least misappropriation of taxpayer dollars that a contract could be signed like that with effectively zero return (i.e. winning/bringing in money) prior to the contract extension.
Abby Schnable
1:29
I’m not entirely sure on all the specifics in this exact scenario, but here’s how it generally works: if boosters don’t cover a buyout, the school itself typically pays it from its athletic department budget, which comes from a combination of ticket sales, media rights, donations and sometimes university funds. In public universities like Pitt, that can technically include state-allocated funds, but it doesn’t usually mean taxpayers directly write a check — it’s part of the university’s overall budget. This is also why Pitt likely wouldn't fire Capel if they didn't have the money from donors.

As for investigation, the state can look into mismanagement or misuse of public funds, but buyouts like this are almost always legal if they’re part of the signed contract, even if they seem excessive. It’s frustrating, but it usually isn’t considered fraudulent because the school agreed to the terms.
John Capel
1:40
Thanks Abby for your response. If allowed I have a quick follow up question....Do you have a sense of what Capel's buy out drops to next year? Or conversely what it was in year one after the extension?
Abby Schnable
1:45
I don’t think Pitt has ever released the exact numbers, but the reporting I’ve seen puts Capel’s buyout around $10 million if he were let go this season — I know Zeise said $15 million so I'd guess somewhere between the two.

Right after his contract extension, the buyout would have been higher — though exact figures weren’t made public — and then it drops the further you get from that year. Some reports suggest it could be closer to $5 million next year, so it’s a big chunk now, but it decreases if they wait.
1:56
Well that's all for today. I appreciate everyone's questions and we will be back next week!
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