One of the state’s college basketball coach openings is reportedly close to being filled.
Ball State is expected to hire Chris Capko as its next men’s basketball coach, CBS and ESPN reported Thursday morning. Capko, 42, has worked for the last decade under Andy Enfield at USC and SMU, rising to become Enfield’s associate head coach with the Trojans, and continuing for the last two years with the Mustangs.
Capko and the Cardinals are still negotiating, according to the reports, but he is the man tabbed to replace Michael Lewis, who was fired March 7 after four seasons and failing to make the MAC Tournament in his final three. Lewis was 61-64 in his tenure, and the Cardinals were 12-19, 7-11 in Mid-American Conference play last season. Butler also has an opening after Thad Matta retired Monday.
The rebuild facing Capko can’t be understated. Ball State has been to seven NCAA Tournaments in its history, but none since the turn of the century. The MAC had success this season with programs with top NIL funding in the league, becoming a two-bid league with Miami (Ohio) starting 31-0 and advancing past Capko’s Mustangs 89-79 on Wednesday night. The RedHawks are an 11 seed in the big dance and MAC Tournament champion Akron is a 12 seed.
The Cardinals have five winning seasons in the last decade, a credit to James Whitford who won 12 games his first two seasons then followed with consecutive 21-win seasons. Lewis only had one winning season, his first (20-12), with the program slipping with that high mark over the last six seasons.
Ball State turns to Capko with high hopes. He was named as one of The Athletic’s top Power Five assistant coaches, and one of the 50 most impactful high-major assistant coaches by Silver Waves Media the last two seasons. Additionally, Capko spoke at the NCAA Champions Forum for Men’s Basketball at the Indianapolis offices.
Here’s what to know about Capko.
Chris Capko coaching resume
Chris Capko playing career, college stats
Capko began his career playing for coach Billy Donovan at Florida. But he transferred after playing 10 games for the Gators in 2002-03.
The native of Lakeland, Florida, sat out 2003-04 after transferring to South Florida. He played for three seasons and was fifth in the Big East his junior year in assists. He started 23 of 29 games that season and averaged career-highs of 2.9 points, 4.4 assists and 3.6 turnovers per game that junior season.
For his career, he averaged 1.6 points, 2.4 assists to 1.8 turnovers in 17.2 minutes per game across 75 games (30 starts)
Chris Capko recruiting success
Chris Capko has coached 11 players who went on to play in the NBA, so far. That includes Bronny James, son of LeBron James, and has been known to be a strong recruiter. He helped bring eight straight top-30 recruiting classes to Los Angeles, and helped develop Evan Mobley, Isaiah Collier and Onyeka Okongwu into NBA players.
Of course, so much of recruiting is tied to NIL and revenue-share funding.
Chris Capko age
Chris Capko is 42 years old. He was born Oct. 30, 1983.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who is Chris Capko? What to know about reported next Ball State men’s basketball coach
Reporting by Aaron Ferguson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
