GREENSBORO, NC (93.7 The Fan) – She had a decision to make last time at this year. Was Jeff Capel the right man to lead the Pitt Panthers? There were struggles on the court and turnover off of it. She trusted and believed in what Capel could do and it became a 24-win season including two in the NCAA Tournament.
“Nothing gets turned overnight if you are doing it the right way,” Lyke said Sunday which is a distinction and credit to Capel for not taking shortcuts or cheating when that option could have been tempting. “It takes some time and it takes a foundation that he laid is coming out today. It just takes some time.”
“It’s a culmination of a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of the right kids in the program at the right time. I think it will only get better from here. I have great expectations for Coach Capel, but no one has higher expectations than Jeff and his staff.”
There weren’t high expectations out of the walls of the Petersen Events Center. Picked to be a basement-dweller in the ACC, the Panthers accomplished a goal of getting back to March Madness. Capel and the coaching staff not only brought in new players, but the right players. Leaders, who would enforce the message from the staff when they weren’t around.
“This is one of the most selfless teams I’ve ever been around,” Lyke said. “Genuinely a joy to be around. They care about one another. They care about Pitt. They’re unselfish in their play. It’s a great group of kids to be around. I’m really proud of them. I hope they recognize what an incredible jolt of energy and life and pride they did instill in the fan base.”
Lyke thanked the fans, noted they never left, but had something to be proud of this year.
“I think we got tremendous momentum, you see what is coming back,” Lyke said. “The Twins, Blake, Fede and there is a lot to build upon. It takes a certain level of courage and confidence for coaches to come to build something and for players to be a part of something that hasn’t been done ever, win an ACC Championship. We need to do that yet and obviously we want to go further in the NCAA Tournament. I’m really confident this team will continue to get better.”
“We aren’t anywhere near done. It started five years ago, there was an evolution, a culture had to be built. Coaches needed to learn and understand what Pitt and Pittsburgh is all about. This is just the beginning in sense of what our ceiling potentially is.”
National Champion
Lyke said she couldn’t be more proud of Nino Bonaccorsi for winning the Panthers first NCAA wrestling championship since now head coach Keith Gavin won in 2008. She smiled as she said she told Gavin she was tired of saying he was the last NCAA champ. Then she texted Bonaccorsi and heard back from him this morning.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you last night Mrs. Heather,” Lyke said as she recalled his text on Sunday. “I was a little busy.”
“He said I couldn’t be more proud to bring a national championship back to Pittsburgh. He’s a representative of every kid that wrestles in Pittsburgh and in Pennsylvania. You can win a national championship at Pitt.”
It’s part of an academic year that, along with Bonaccorsi’s title, included a volleyball Final Four, NCAA Tournament for men’s and women’s soccer, NCAA finalists in swimming and diving, nationally ranked wrestling, a nine-win football season and basketball returning to March Madness for the first time in seven years.
“I’ve said all along I believe in comprehensive excellence and the importance of 19 teams being successful,” Lyke said. “Success is contagious and I think we are starting to finally get a sense of that. I think the trajectory of our department is heading in the right direction. I’ve got a great team that I love working with every day.”