Pitt announced Saturday afternoon that Jeff Capel had tested positive for COVID-19.
The announcement means that Capel cannot coach the tea for its first ACC home game against Louisville on Tuesday:
Head coach Jeff Capel will miss Dec. 22 contest against Louisville.
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) December 19, 2020
Subsequent testing in the program has resulted in no additional positive test results.https://t.co/l0vOaWnjn5
Pitt also announced that there were no other positive tests that came from the program's subsequent testing. That at least means that the program's social distancing and protocols have worked to protect other coaches, players and staff should a single person be infected with the coronavirus.
The Capel news comes while the Panthers are 5-1, on a four-game win streak and coming off an ACC victory against Miami on Wednesday.
Capel has been an extremely vocal advocate for student athletes and the challenges they face during the pandemic. He's questioned whether sports should be played at this time and defended other coaches like Mike Krzyzewski who also raised similar questions.
The ACC policy requires anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days after initially showing symptoms or testing positive. For that person to return at the end of those ten days, they must have tested negative and recovered from symptoms for at least one full day.
That means Capel could potentially return for Pitt's game against Duke on Dec. 29.
Of course, that's cutting things very close.
In the meantime, the team's assistant head coach Tim O'Toole could take the reins with Jason Capel, Jeff's brother, also helping in his absence.
