DATE: Saturday, June 14, 1997               TAG: 9706140570

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   49 lines

FSU SEARCHING FOR COACH IN VEGAS NO ONE IS SAYING IF THE ACC SCHOOL WILL ROLL THE DICE WITH ODU'S CAPEL

Florida State athletic director Dave Hart will apparently make his first play for a new basketball coach in America's gaming capital: Las Vegas.

Hart told Florida reporters Friday that he has not asked for permission to talk to any of the candidates to replace former coach Pat Kennedy. Among the candidates is Old Dominion coach Jeff Capel.

Hart will have ample opportunity to talk to fellow athletic directors this weekend, when the annual convention of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics gets underway at Bally's hotel.

A source in Florida said Hart may also interview candidates in Las Vegas next week. The convention runs through Wednesday.

Hart is expected to name a coach before the crucial summer camp recruiting season begins in July. Media reports in Florida have said he is especially interested in hiring an African American coach.

Hart said Thursday he is interested in hiring ``the best coach we can at Florida State. ... no matter the race. I look at that short list; there are certainly some minority coaches on it.''

All but one of the coaches on Hart's list are minorities: Capel, Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson, Tulane coach Perry Clark, FSU assistant Donnie Walsh, Virginia assistant Ricky Stokes and Rice coach Willis Wilson. The exception is Oregon State coach Eddie Payne, who was the coach at East Carolina while Hart was athletic director there.

Florida State has never had an African American head coach, in any sport. Only one African American, former Maryland coach Bob Wade, has been the head coach of an ACC basketball team.

Capel, who has a 61-36 record and two NCAA tournament appearances in three seasons at ODU, is considered a strong candidate because of his solid coaching credentials. Another point in his favor is that his son, Jason, is one of the nation's top high school players. Capel has said he would like to coach his son in college.

In addition, Hampton High's Ronald Curry, one of the nation's top high school football and basketball players, is a family friend. Curry has already expressed interest in attending Florida State.

Capel said Thursday he has not spoken with anyone at Florida State. Attempts to reach ODU athletic director Jim Jarrett were unsuccessful. Jarrett was en route to the athletic director's convention in Las Vegas. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Jeff Capel has a 61-36 record and two NCAA tournament appearances in

three seasons at Old Dominion.

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