Tulsa World Article

[cfin5256]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20110315_92_B1_CUTLIN869589


Started looking for this after hearing about emails from Capel to the staff that were published. Pretty interesting stuff; makes it pretty clear that Jeff knew it was coming eventually.

March 20, 2010, Capel sent an email to his staff saying: "As you know, this program is in a very bad place right now. We have made many mistakes in recruiting, and it showed its head this season in many ways. We have had so much turnover since we have been here that it left (us) in a position where we really did not have any upperclassmen. Now, we will lose many guys from this year's team, and recruiting is not going as I anticipated.

"Also, how our guys conduct themselves when they get here, our reputation on campus, and in the community has taken a severe hit...

"Joe (Castiglione) is very concerned with the state of the program right now. He talked to me for 25 minutes after the game in the Big 12 Tournament, and we met again last Friday. I am scheduled to meet with him again sometime before the Final Four."

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsext...ctid=92&articleid=20110315_92_B1_CUTLIN869589

In an email from February of '09 to his staff, Capel addressed Juan Pattillo's dissatisfaction with playing time specifically. More to the general mood at the time, Capel wrote: "We are 25-1, 11-0 in the conference and ranked #2 in the country. That's a long way from our first year here. For the life of me, I cannot understand why we are not able to enjoy it...

"At the beginning of the year, I assigned each of you guys (a player) to meet with and talk to. How many of you still do that? I asked that you meet with them somewhere away from the court. Perhaps you could cut this stuff, or get an idea of what is going on with some of these guys before the situation gets out of hand."

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsext...ctid=92&articleid=20110315_92_B1_CUTLIN869589

Thought it was pretty interesting in regards to what was going on a bit behind the scenes.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Is it odd that he would send emails about this instead of talking to them in person? Perhaps it's just me, but I find that a little odd. Most of the people I work with aren't in the same city as me, so email is a necessity. But if I work in the same bulding w/ someone, I talk to them in person.

Or had he talked to them in person and just wanted an 'audit trail'.

 

[cfin5256]

Is it odd that he would send emails about this instead of talking to them in person? Perhaps it's just me, but I find that a little odd. Most of the people I work with aren't in the same city as me, so email is a necessity. But if I work in the same bulding w/ someone, I talk to them in person.

Or had he talked to them in person and just wanted an 'audit trail'.

Good question. I know some of the larger places I've worked, an email was the easiest way to touch base with certain co-workers, sups, etc. Still, with the some of the issues being discussed in the emails, surely face to face meetings with the assistant coaches would have been a necessity.

 

[NickZepp]

Emails are for little things that aren't that important. I guess because coaches are on the road recruiting more it's different but wouldn't you do this on phone instead of e-mail?

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

You want to have these types of discussions both in Email and in person...documentation reasons...

I would guess some of this is like Zepp said, they possibly are on the road recruiting at different times and maybe this is something Capel thought he needed to address immediately and get some responses back...

I dont think there is anything wrong with addressing it this way, and none of us know the situation when these were written...like time of day/were everyone was/previous conversations, etc...

People can make all the conclusions they want about Capel, but what does it really matter at this point? He obviously had some problems learning how to deal with difficult players and my guess is he has learned from it and will be a better coach because of it...

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Well, there goes the idea that Capel didn't really take responsibility; I wonder who the "many guys" from this team were going to be. We only had one senior...hmmm.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Well, there goes the idea that Capel didn't really take responsibility; I wonder who the "many guys" from this team were going to be. We only had one senior...hmmm.

That email was from March 2010, so it was in reference to last years team...not this years...

 

[AdaSooner]

Is it odd that he would send emails about this instead of talking to them in person? Perhaps it's just me, but I find that a little odd. Most of the people I work with aren't in the same city as me, so email is a necessity. But if I work in the same bulding w/ someone, I talk to them in person.

Or had he talked to them in person and just wanted an 'audit trail'.

Good question. I know some of the larger places I've worked, an email was the easiest way to touch base with certain co-workers, sups, etc. Still, with the some of the issues being discussed in the emails, surely face to face meetings with the assistant coaches would have been a necessity.

I couldn't agree more about the necessity of meeting with staff members personally to discuss matters of importance. I'm also taken aback by his decision to address issues of this nature via e-mail in the first place, or why he had to ask if his assistants were performing the tasks he had already laid out for them? A good manager would know without asking. To me, this is one of numerous examples of Capel's poor management skills that contributed to his demise. Last year's mess is proof that he could not manage some of the players he brought in either.

As for the content of these e-mails, it's clear that Jeff knew he was in trouble, long before the end came.

 

[NickZepp]

The Sports Animal is bringing up interesting questions after talking about this article.

Was he a good manager of not only his players but his coaches?

Did he sell the program well?

I think both of these probably hurt him in Joe Cs evaluation.

 

[cfin5256]

I couldn't agree more about the necessity of meeting with staff members personally to discuss matters of importance. I'm also taken aback by his decision to address issues of this nature via e-mail in the first place, or why he had to ask if his assistants were performing the tasks he had already laid out for them? A good manager would know without asking. To me, this is one of numerous examples of Capel's poor management skills that contributed to his demise. Last year's mess is proof that he could not manage some of the players he brought in either.

As for the content of these e-mails, it's clear that Jeff knew he was in trouble, long before the end came.

Well said Ada. The shocking thing to me was having to ask if his assistants we're performing their tasks in the middle of an Elite Eight season. I liked Jeff alot and hope that he takes this as a learning tool; as surely he will. I have no doubt he will be successful, but I think that the OU job was a bit too much too early in his career.

 

[boksooner]

Capel did many things wrong, but this seems like an odd thing to criticize him about without knowing the back story. I can assure you that as a manager, I almost always send a follow up email after a phone or in person conversation. This makes it easier to track what I have assigned my employees and it makes it easier for them to remember what we talked about. Capel obviously had poor management skills, but using email doesn't seem to be his problem. I pretty sure it was his inability to evaluate talent, retain talent and coaches and discipline.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I couldn't agree more about the necessity of meeting with staff members personally to discuss matters of importance. I'm also taken aback by his decision to address issues of this nature via e-mail in the first place, or why he had to ask if his assistants were performing the tasks he had already laid out for them? A good manager would know without asking. To me, this is one of numerous examples of Capel's poor management skills that contributed to his demise. Last year's mess is proof that he could not manage some of the players he brought in either.

As for the content of these e-mails, it's clear that Jeff knew he was in trouble, long before the end came.

I've always thought that one of the advantage that a basketball coach had over a football coach was that a smaller roster meant that the head coach could know all of his players much better. Those emails make him sound very removed from his players. On the other hand, you have the current players saying that they really liked him etc. It does seem kind of strange, but it's perfectly possible that I have no clue about these things. :OU-logo:

 

[Mr.B!!!]

That email was from March 2010, so it was in reference to last years team...not this years...

:facepalm

Good catch!

 

[AdaSooner]

You want to have these types of discussions both in Email and in person...documentation reasons...

I would guess some of this is like Zepp said, they possibly are on the road recruiting at different times and maybe this is something Capel thought he needed to address immediately and get some responses back...

I dont think there is anything wrong with addressing it this way, and none of us know the situation when these were written...like time of day/were everyone was/previous conversations, etc...

People can make all the conclusions they want about Capel, but what does it really matter at this point? He obviously had some problems learning how to deal with difficult players and my guess is he has learned from it and will be a better coach because of it...

Good point about documenting the issues by e-mail, Edmond. Still, I don't think I would have wanted a statement like this to be documented anywhere. Some things are better left unsaid, especially in a forum that could be viewed by anyone outside the immediate coaching family:

"As you know, this program is in a very bad place right now. We have made many mistakes in recruiting, and it showed its head this season in many ways."

I agree that these experiences, while difficult to swallow at this point in his career, will only make Jeff stronger and better prepared to deal with dfficult situations going forward. I hope that's the case, and I wish him nothing but the best!

 

[Big Old Booger]

This is further proof that Capel was in way over his head and also proof his hiring of asst coaches and evaluation of character (of players) were his 2 biggest shortcomings.

This is also proof that we can't just hire somebody who "is a recruiter" and call it a day. We have to have somebody who is either a fantastic coach who can win with at least decent talent, or hire a fantastic recruiter and surround him with excellent asst coaches who can take the talent and turn it into a winning team. Kind of like Leonard Hamilton. He was always a great recruiter but a horrible X's and O's coach. Once he surrounded himself with good asst coaches, he was able to win because he brought in the talent and his asst's taught them how to play winning basketball.

 

[soonertravis]

Capel did many things wrong, but this seems like an odd thing to criticize him about without knowing the back story. I can assure you that as a manager, I almost always send a follow up email after a phone or in person conversation. This makes it easier to track what I have assigned my employees and it makes it easier for them to remember what we talked about. Capel obviously had poor management skills, but using email doesn't seem to be his problem. I pretty sure it was his inability to evaluate talent, retain talent and coaches and discipline.

When I follow up with an e-mail it always referrences our call. That way I can document that I spoke to the person and the contents of what was in that conversation. I think this does provide great insight. While I agree with your overall point that talent was a more important factor, there is no doubt he got talent. It was his management of the roster once they arrived. The big three from a year ago. TJ Taylor, Juan Patillo, etc. All of that had a big impact on the collapse. The lack of an older presence when Blake left had as much to do with fallout from earlier recruiting classes and poor management than from anything else. How good would mini-AI(never remember his name off the top of my head) have looked at the point Blake's last year or last year as the team was falling apart.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Good point about documenting the issues by e-mail, Edmond. Still, I don't think I would have wanted a statement like this to be documented anywhere. Some things are better left unsaid, especially in a forum that could be viewed by anyone outside the immediate coaching family:

"As you know, this program is in a very bad place right now. We have made many mistakes in recruiting, and it showed its head this season in many ways."

I agree that these experiences, while difficult to swallow at this point in his career, will only make Jeff stronger and better prepared to deal with dfficult situations going forward. I hope that's the case, and I wish him nothing but the best!

I agree with a lot you said, i just have a problem looking at these and making any judgements on him because they are private emails and just like quotes can be taken out of context...

I would probably look pretty bad as well if all my emails came out in to the public...some days i can be pretty down and express some things that might not be total truth and more frustration...

These obviously dont look good, but i dont think anything here is much of a surprise...just fuel to put on the Capel fire that really should be put out by now...he isnt here anymore and isnt coming back...i think the world of the guy and know he will be a solid coach wherever he ends up going...

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree with a lot you said, i just have a problem looking at these and making any judgements on him because they are private emails and just like quotes can be taken out of context...

I would probably look pretty bad as well if all my emails came out in to the public...some days i can be pretty down and express some things that might not be total truth and more frustration...

These obviously dont look good, but i dont think anything here is much of a surprise...just fuel to put on the Capel fire that really should be put out by now...he isnt here anymore and isnt coming back...i think the world of the guy and know he will be a solid coach wherever he ends up going...

Nothing here I disagree with. I also agree that it would be best to move on and put an end to the discussions about Jeff Capel. But I think we both know that is not likely to happen anytime soon. His dismissal and the mess he left behind are hot topics right now. As much as I liked Jeff as a person, he has not done much in the past two years to endure himself as a coach in the eyes of most Sooner fans. If we get hit with sanctions from the NCAA, which I doubt, it will only get worse.

 

[colston15]

How long does the new coach get to blame his lack of success (If he has trouble) on Capel?

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Nothing here I disagree with. I also agree that it would be best to move on and put an end to the discussions about Jeff Capel. But I think we both know that is not likely to happen anytime soon. His dismissal and the mess he left behind are hot topics right now. As much as I liked Jeff as a person, he has not done much in the past two years to endure himself as a coach in the eyes of most Sooner fans. If we get hit with sanctions from the NCAA, which I doubt, it will only get worse.

That is true...i just really hope he wasnt involved in that...

But from the emails and your points on not really having a good sense of what his subordinates are doing i could see this Tiny thing as much his fault as anyone elses....kind of like that lack of institutional control thing....