THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 14, 1995 TAG: 9503140413
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
Jeff Capel flew to Chicago Monday to tape a 30-minute ESPN special with three other NCAA tournament team coaches.
``He's an up-and-coming young coach,'' said Scot Thor, who selected Capel for the panel.
Now Old Dominion's challenge is to make sure its up-and-coming coach doesn't up and leave.
Capel is hot. That's why he was on ESPN last night, along with Tulane's Perry Clark, Texas' Tom Penders and Tulsa's Tubby Smith. He also taped a segment for a national radio show Monday morning before flying to Chicago.
The angst created by Oliver Purnell's departure for Dayton last spring has abated. A conference championship, NCAA tournament berth and a fine coaching job by Capel - as well as a recruiting class that experts rank among the nation's top 25 - will calm some nerves.
But can ODU prevent Capel from following the same path paved with gold Purnell took out of town?
To athletic director Jim Jarrett, it's an enchanting problem.
``Why would you want a coach who wasn't in demand?'' Jarrett said. ``Anybody who is successful at some point is going to be approached.''
Jarrett said Capel's performance will be evaluated and rewarded after the season. He would not speculate on what dollar figure that reward may take.
Capel signed a four-year contract last spring with a base salary of $86,000 and total package worth an estimated $150,000. That's less than half the $325,000 deal that lured away Purnell.
``It becomes an issue of compensation,'' Jarrett said. ``It's no secret that if certain schools in the country want to out-bid Old Dominion, they can do that.''
Jarrett said the $388,000 contract buyout Purnell has to pay over four years enables ODU to enhance Capel's package if warranted, although the entire athletic department's salary structure and gender equity issues must be taken into account.
``We want Jeff Capel to stay here for as long as he wants to stay,'' Jarrett said. ``We've got a real winner. We're lucky to have him and we want to keep him.''
Capel does not appear primed to bolt. However, the same could have been said last year at this time of Purnell, who had agreed to a contract extension just months earlier.
``I have no desire to leave Old Dominion,'' Capel said.
Capel stressed when he took the job he wanted his son Jason to play his entire high school career in one place. Jason is a freshman starter for Indian River, which will play in the Group AAA state semifinals Friday.
``We want stability in his life at this time,'' Capel said.
ODU has a strong team returning next year, including injured Odell Hodge and transfer Joe Bunn as well as the incoming freshmen. The Monarchs expect to open up a new on-campus arena within four or five years, which Capel said improves the program's potential.
``I think he realizes he can do something at Old Dominion that can take us to the next level and develop the program beyond what it ever has been before,'' Jarrett said.
But what happens if an ACC school comes calling?
``You certainly listen,'' Capel said.
History shows he is willing to listen.
Capel is just the 10th coach in the 57-year history of the NCAA tournament to lead two different schools to the tournament in consecutive years. He took North Carolina A&T last season.
Actually, ODU is the third school Capel has guided to the postseason in three seasons, which may be a first. The NCAA's Division II and Division III tournament records are not as meticulous as those for Division I, so it's impossible to determine if Capel has made history.
Mark Cline, Capel's No. 1 assistant for six seasons, does not expect Capel to go for four in four seasons.
``I think he's very happy here and the situation is great,'' Cline said. ``It's a league you've got a chance to be competitive in every year.''
Cline said when he and Capel drove home together the morning after the CAA championship game, they heard talk on the radio questioning whether ODU could keep Capel.
``We just laughed,'' Cline said.
If Capel continues to succeed at ODU, it may not be a laughing matter for the Monarchs in the near future.
BUS TRIP: ODU officials have arranged for bus transportation for fans to both the men's and women's first-round competition.
A bus will depart for the Lady Monarchs' game in Knoxville on Wednesday at 10 p.m. from the ODU field house. The roundtrip cost is $85 and does not include a game ticket which is $15 for two games on Thursday and one game on Saturday.
The Lady Monarchs will play on Thursday at approximately 8:45, or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Tennessee-Florida A&M game which starts at 6 p.m. The final on Saturday is at 7 p.m.
A bus will depart for the men's game in Albany on Thursday at 10 p.m. from the ODU field house. The roundtrip cost is $85 and open to only persons holding tickets to the tournament.
PEP RALLY: There will be a pep rally on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in front of the ODU Webb Student Center for the men's and women's basketball teams. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Bill Tiernan, Staff
Jeff Capel...
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