Appalachian State fires Capel

Mar 10, 2014 - 10:02 PM Boone, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Appalachian State announced Monday that the university will not renew the contract of head men's basketball coach Jason Capel.

Capel amassed a 53-70 overall record and a 32-38 mark in the Southern Conference over four seasons with the Mountaineers. Appalachian State finished above .500 only once over that span, going 16-15 overall and 10-8 in league play during Capel's first season in 2010-11.

The Mountaineers slumped to a 9-21 finish this past season and placed ninth in the Southern Conference with a 5-11 league mark.

"As we enter the Sun Belt Conference next season, we have decided to do so with new leadership for our men's basketball program," Appalachian State director of athletics Charlie Cobb said. "I sincerely thank Coach Capel for his effort and dedication to Appalachian State over the last five years. He is a first-class person and has a bright professional future ahead of him. I wish him and his family nothing but the best."

Capel, a former starting forward at North Carolina, served as an assistant at Appalachian State in 2009-10 before the then 30-year-old became the youngest active Division I head coach.