THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 31, 1995 TAG: 9505310629
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Old Dominion has extended the contract of basketball coach Jeff Capel two years and has given him a raise that he called ``a significant amount to make me want to make Old Dominion my home.''
Before the deal was presented to Capel on Tuesday, he had been seriously contemplating a change of address.
Capel revealed that new Detroit Pistons coach Doug Collins had talked to him about becoming an assistant coach, and that he was mulling it. Capel said he intended to call Collins on Tuesday night and decline after ODU extended his contract to the year 2000 and provided a hefty raise.
``I'm going to sign it,'' Capel said of the renegotiated ODU deal. ``I'm really happy about it. Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be here in the new (on-campus convocation center) when it opens in 1999.''
Neither Capel nor ODU athletic director Jim Jarrett would provide terms of the contract, which Capel expects to sign today after his lawyer looks it over. Capel, who earned a base salary of $86,000 last year, did acknowledge that the new base is less than $100,000.
Including money from summer camps, radio, television and a shoe contract, Capel's total package last season at ODU was an estimated $125,000.
``I think he was really pleased with it,'' Jarrett said of the new deal. ``We think he's a real valuable asset to Old Dominion and the area, and we want to keep him here. I think the contract we offered him will do that.''
Last season was Capel's first of a four-year contract. He made a quick splash on Hampton Boulevard, leading the Monarchs, a No. 14 seed, to a triple-overtime upset of third-seeded Villanova in theNCAA tournament's East Regional. ODU lost its next tournament game to Tulsa to finish the season 21-12.
The Monarchs won the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season and tournament titles despite the season-ending knee injury to star center Odell Hodge in December. In addition to the successes on the court, the Monarchs signed six high school players for a recruiting class that analysts said will rank among the top 25 in the nation.
Despite the program's seemingly bright future, Capel was intrigued by the chance to join Collins, who approached Capel at the Duke athletic banquet April 24. Collins and Capel both have sons who play for the Blue Devils.
Capel, 42, has worked at three schools in the last three seasons. He has said frequently that his family needs stability, particularly his son Jason, a high school freshman.
But the chance to jump to the NBA demanded consideration. Capel said before he was given a new contract, there was a 50-50 chance he would take the Pistons job, which might have doubled his salary.
Collins had asked Capel to come to Detroit for an interview, but Capel never did. Though Capel said no formal job offer was made, he was confident the job was his had he wanted it.
``I was flattered,'' Capel said. ``That's the highest level you can go as a player or coach in the profession. I thought about it.''
But when the Monarchs made the commitment to Capel and his program that he hoped to receive, his decision was made.
Capel also had qualms about going to Detroit and leaving assistants Mark Cline, Jim Corrigan and Bobby Collins behind - possibly in the unemployment line if a new coach came to ODU with his own staff.
``The bottom line was it wasn't a decision that affected just me and my family,'' Capel said. ``It affected three other families.''
Jarrett said the new contract had nothing to do with the possibility Capel would jump to the Pistons.
``We have been talking since the season's been over and every discussion we've had, Jeff said he wanted to be at Old Dominion,'' Jarrett said.
Cline said if Capel had been offered the Pistons job in March or April - when his assistants would have had time to find new jobs - he might have taken it.
``Had it been a different time, I think it would have happened,'' said Cline, who has worked for Capel the past six seasons. ``I don't think Jeff ever wanted to leave, but in this business, job security and financial security mean a lot.
I personally didn't want to leave. I'm glad Jeff's finally got everything worked out.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/Staff file
Jeff Capel, shown with ODU guard Mike Jones, was offered an
assistant's position with Detroit of the NBA.
by CNB