Jeff Capel II facts for kids

Felton Jeffrey Capel II (January 6, 1953 – November 13, 2017) was an American basketball coach. He coached college teams and was an assistant coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the head coach for the Old Dominion Monarchs from 1994 to 2001. Before that, he coached the North Carolina A&T Aggies (1993–1994) and the Fayetteville State Broncos (1989–1993). He was also an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats and the Philadelphia 76ers. His sons, Jeff Capel III and Jason Capel, also became basketball coaches.

Early Life and Education

Jeff Capel II was born in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He finished high school at Pinecrest High School in 1970. After high school, he went to Fayetteville State University. He played on the basketball team during his first year.

From 1971 to 1975, Capel served in the United States Army. He often said that his time in the Army taught him a lot about discipline. After his military service, he returned to Fayetteville State. He played one more season of basketball as a senior. In 1977, he graduated with a degree in health and physical education.

Coaching Career Highlights

Starting His Coaching Journey

In 1978, Capel returned to his old high school, Pinecrest High. He started as a volunteer basketball coach. He also coached wrestling, baseball, and junior varsity football. From 1980 to 1986, he became the head varsity basketball coach. During this time, he also worked as an assistant principal at Pinecrest.

From 1986 to 1989, Capel moved to Wake Forest University. He worked there as an assistant coach under head coach Bob Staak.

Coaching College Teams

In 1989, Capel became the head coach at Fayetteville State University. Over four seasons (1989–1993), his team had a record of 63 wins and 51 losses. They reached the semi-finals of the CIAA basketball tournament in 1991. They also made it to the NCAA tournament in 1992. One of the players he coached there was Darrell Armstrong, who later played in the NBA.

Success at North Carolina A&T

For the 1993–94 season, Capel coached at North Carolina A&T. His team finished with 16 wins and 14 losses. They won the MEAC tournament championship. This win earned them a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Leading Old Dominion Monarchs

After North Carolina A&T, Capel became the head coach for Old Dominion from 1994 to 2001. Under his leadership, Old Dominion won two CAA tournament championships. These wins happened in 1995 and 1997. The team also reached the second round of the 1995 NCAA tournament. They also made it to the first round of the 1997 NCAA tournament. In 1999, they reached the second round of the 1999 National Invitation Tournament. At Old Dominion, Capel's record was 122 wins and 98 losses.

Coaching in Professional Leagues

The Fayetteville Patriots

In 2001, Capel took on a new challenge. He became the head coach for the Fayetteville Patriots. This team was part of the new National Basketball Development League (NBDL), which is a minor league for the NBA. He coached the Patriots from 2001 to 2004. In the 2002–03 season, the Patriots finished first in the NBDL. They were also runners-up in the 2003 NBDL Finals.

NBA Assistant Coach

From 2004 to 2011, Capel worked as an assistant coach. He joined the Charlotte Bobcats, a new NBA team. After that, he was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers from 2011 to 2013.

Legacy

Jeff Capel II passed away on November 13, 2017, after a serious illness. His son, Jeff Capel III, shared in 2017 that his father had been diagnosed with a condition in 2014. Capel II left a lasting impact on many players and teams throughout his long coaching career.