The University of North Carolina Wilmington fired the athletic director of two years, Mike Capaccio.
Capaccio was named interim athletic director in 2004. He assumed the permanent position a few months later.
Seahawk Club member, Dr. Chris Glendenning said the community was excited when Capaccio was hired.
“Mike was a very well-liked person, very fun to be around. He had become a very important part of the Seahawk family," Glendenning said.
However, Capaccio came under fire last spring from the Seahawk community when he failed to re-sign standout basketball coach, Brad Brownell.
“I think alot of people probably felt like the effort to retain our previous coach, coach Brownell, the effort probably wasn't where a lot of people would like it to be at that time," Glendenning said.
University officials are not releasing details of the termination. In a written statement, University Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo said, “I believe the university will be better served with this change in athletic department leadership. This decision was reached after a thoughtful and comprehensive performance review of his two years as athletic director.”
Glendenning has high hopes for the future of Seahawks athletics.
“Hopefully, a new chapter with a new A-D just creates a great opportunity for us,” he said.
University officials said they will name an interim athletic director next week, and will begin a nation-wide search for a permanent replacement soon.
after all mike done for uncw and this is his thank you
Im throwing the rally towel in on this one . this is the respect the man gets for his loyalty , courage , and achievement , he stood by the uncw athletic department for years when they were at there worst and gave that athletic department his all .as director of basketball operations for many years before this mikes decisions and leadership was not questioned why all of a sudden because of brownell not agreeing his contract mike is being crucified . I honestly think as a fan of basketball days since jim valvono god rest his soul mike had big plans for the future bigger than brownell could imagine . especially with a 1 million bid of donations for the b ball department for the next 10 years because of mike capaccio . mike you are an unsung hero i no you are better than what the hard headed democratic fans and faculity make you out to be . This is the same people whom i dont vote for and dont rely on for my future .If any other basketball team professional or on the college level has any sense at all mikes resume want last long at all on the open market he is well qualified . Dont judge a book by its cover .
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i think chris glendenning is right on the mark....plus i have high hopes for the seahawks,,,,,plus that little guy was so darn cute (chris) thanks
UNCW AD
Finally! He should have been let go as soon as he emails recruiting were discovered. No one booster is more important than the program nor the school.
Focus on educating while winning is what we have based our reputation.
How do we go from recruiting an ACC assistant coach...to Coach Brownell...to an assistant coach from Charlotte???
Someone is not working hard enough to recruit the right head coach for our University. I have been going to UNCW games since Rowson and can not believe how quickly we have digressed.
It is time for a New AD and Coach. Let's set our sights a little higher to achieve what we already had with Brownell.
There is no mid-major that can compete with the big boys running and gunning. We need a coach that understands that we want to win in the NCAA not just our conference.
NO EXCUSES!!!
DKC
what capaccio terminated ????
i have seen mike at numerous basket ball games and i have came to him with seahawk team teal problems and they have been adjusted with prompt and courteys response . mike is a down to earth person just like being around a dad or brother . he has a great sense of humor its unbelevable this is happening i want to no the full details of his termination . i no with my own eyes that when mike was first hired there were drastic changes in the athletic department for the better like porto johns placed on the ball fields and the introduction of team teal which is for fans to attend games and win free prizes .mike has boosted the popularity of uncw athletics no doubt. and i do think coach brownell was a stand out and had the b ball team in excellent condition to win a tournament and a championship . the facts are not clear in this case and are being hushed . i want to no more details .