Panther Nation,
Over the past several months, I have spent a great deal of time evaluating every aspect of our men’s basketball program. That process included conversations with Coach Capel, a review of our staff and our roster, our program structure and the transfer portal landscape as well as our investment in the program. I consulted with University leadership to ensure we continue to be aligned with our expectations for the program.
After that comprehensive evaluation, I have made the decision that Jeff Capel will continue to lead our men’s basketball program. I believe our best path forward is leadership continuity paired with clear expectations and a willingness to evolve.
This was not a simple decision and I believe you deserve to understand the thinking behind it.
To be blunt, this season fell well short of our expectations. Our level of investment in this year’s team was sufficient enough for us to reach the NCAA Tournament at a minimum. Simply fighting to qualify for the ACC Tournament is not good enough, and I am sure you feel the same way.
At the same time, our student-athletes continued to compete with effort, pride and resilience through a difficult season. They fought until the end and represented this University with toughness. Effort alone is not enough. We must be better going forward. I know it. Jeff knows it. And you know it. Jeff and I will continue to examine every aspect of the program and will make the necessary changes.
Over the last 10 months, we have taken important steps to modernize our program. We hired a men’s basketball general manager who has been evaluating our current roster and strengthening our approach to talent evaluation, roster construction and transfer portal strategy.
In today’s college basketball landscape, teams that win in March are typically anchored by players with maturity and toughness. Building a roster with those characteristics will be a central priority moving forward.
Our focus turns to welcoming a highly regarded recruiting class, retaining key contributors and strategically using the transfer portal to add experience and balance.
Chancellor Gabel has said on many occasions that Pitt Athletics serves as the front porch of Pitt and we are grateful that the University is invested in our success.
We already provide our student-athletes with the full amount allowable through revenue sharing. But the programs that thrive are the ones that bring their entire community together, from alumni and fans to supporters and corporate partners, to create above-the-cap NIL opportunities for our student-athletes.
Our region is one of the most dynamic economic centers in the country. Ten Fortune 500 companies are headquartered here and more than thirty others maintain a significant presence in the area. Our platform connects businesses with one of the most passionate fan bases in college sports and offers meaningful ways to engage with the Pittsburgh community. That creates a tremendous opportunity for Pitt Athletics to partner with those companies who choose to invest in the success of our student-athletes and programs.
When Pitt Athletics succeeds, it reflects the pride, resilience and competitive spirit of this city. Our fans should expect a program that reflects those same qualities.
Our goal is building a team capable of competing for championships and representing Pitt in a way that makes this community proud. Thank you for your continued support of all of our programs.
Hail to Pitt,
Allen Greene
Director of Athletics
