Capel took over the National Basketball League’s Fayetteville Patriots on January 8, 2002 after Hall of Fame guard Development Nate “Tiny” Archibald resigned to take a position with the NBA.

The Patriots went 16-18 under Capel despite losing three players to season-ending injuries and having other players out for a significant amount of time for injuries. The Patriots finished the 2001-2002 season 21-35.

During the 2002-2003 season, Capel reconstructed the Patriots. They were 32-18 and won the NBDL regular- season title by a convincing six games. Capel also led the Patriots to the NBDL Finals, but lost 75-72 against the Mobile Revelers in the third and deciding game. In a league with numerous roster changes, Capel kept the Patriots intact throughout the season. Through motivation and fairness to his players, the Patriots made two moves during the 2002-2003 season.

One transaction had to be made because first-round draft pick Devin Brown’s stint with San Antonio Spurs ended. Brown’s arrival in Fayetteville led to the releasing of Richie Dalmau. When the Denver Nuggets signed Brown to a 10-day contract on April 3, 2003, Capel promoted practice player Johnny White.

Capel successfully put in a system that cut down on negative chatter about playing time. He subbed two five-man units every five minutes until the fourth quarter when he went with the best lineup. It led to seven different players leading the Patriots in seven different statistical categories. Capel is 45-35 as Patriots coach. He missed four games in January of 2003 as he recovered from shoulder surgery. He is 3-2 in the playoffs.

Before coaching the Patriots, he was the head coach at Old Dominion University in Norfolk (Va.) from 1994-2000. He coached at N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro (N.C.) from 1993-94. He took both Division I programs to the NCAA tournament. From 1989-93, he coached at his alma mater Fayetteville State.

He was an assistant at Wake Forest University prior to coming to Fayetteville State. Capel, a Southern Pines (N.C.) native, coached at Southern Pines Pinecrest High School from 1980-86 before becoming a college head coach.

At Old Dominion, Capel posted 122-98 record over seven seasons. He had three 20-win seasons. The Monarchs also made two NCAA appearances and earned one NIT bid during Capel’s stint.

In 1995, Old Dominion recorded a triple-overtime victory over third-seeded Villanova in the NCAA Tournament. Two years later the Monarchs were in the NCAA tournament again. Capel posted the best season of any Monarch coach in history that season. He went 25-9 and led the Monarchs to the second round of the NIT.

He spent only one season at N.C. A&T State University, but in that season he led the Aggies to the NCAA tournament and took No. 1 seed and eventual national champion Arkansas to the limit. The Aggies knocked off Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference-favorite Coppin State in the conference tournament to earn a spot in the 1994 NCAA tournament.

His first college head-coaching position came at his alma mater Fayetteville State. He left his assistant coaching job at Wake Forest to take over a Broncos team that had won 25 games combined over the previous three seasons. The Broncos won seven games in Capel’s first season and 14 in his second season. By year three, the Broncos were 22-8. They went 21-9 the following year.

PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS
Married to Jerry Capel…Two Children: Felton Jeffrey Capel III, 28, Jason Capel, 23…Graduated from Southern Pines Pinecrest in 1970…Spent four years (1971-75) in the Army…Said it changed his life because it taught him discipline and gave him structure. It taught him a lot about growing up…He played two seasons at Fayetteville State (71, 75)…Played basketball and baseball in high school…Worked at Pinecrest as a volunteer coach from 1978-79…Coached wrestling, baseball and junior varsity football before becoming the head basketball coach in 1980…Was recently inducted into the Pinecrest High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

COACHING RECORDS

Team	Finish	League	Record
89-90 Fayetteville State	CIAA 1st Round	CIAA	7 21
90-91 Fayetteville State	CIAA semis	CIAA	14 13
91-92 Fayetteville State	CIAA semis	CIAA	22 8
92-93 Fayetteville State	CIAA semis	CIAA	21 9
93-94 N.C. A&T State	NCAA 1st Round	MEAC	15 13
94-95 Old Dominion	NCAA 1st Round	CAA	21 12
95-96 Old Dominion	CAA finals	CAA	18 13
96-97 Old Dominion	NCAA 2nd Round	CAA	22 11
97-98 Old Dominion	CAA 1st Round	CAA	12 16
98-99 Old Dominion	NIT 2nd Round	CAA	25 9
99-00 Old Dominion	CAA 1st Round	CAA	11 19
00-01 Old Dominion	CAA semis	CAA	13 18
01-02 Fayetteville Patriots	NBDL 7th	NBDL	16 18
02-03 Fayetteville Patriots	NBDL 1st	NBDL	*29 17
COLLEGE RECORD			201 162
PROFESSIONAL RECORD			45 35
PLAYOFF RECORD			3 2
* The Patriots finished the regular season 32-18. Capel didn't coach four games because underwent shoulder surgery.