"Everything I have accomplished I owe a big part to MATC" is a statement that has likely been made more than anyone realizes, and certainly reflects a wide swath of accomplishments throughout numerous lives.

But when you consider where Michael Capaccio was when he arrived on campus in fall 1976, and the journey he's taken to the present time, that sentiment might carry a little more weight.

Capaccio, a native of Woodstock, Illinois, is currently the Athletics Director at The Citadel (video above), a United States Military College that competes athletically at the NCAA Division I level, and has held the position since August 2018.

"[I'm] not sure how I fell into this line of work. I wanted to teach high school and coach football and basketball. By watching the coaches at MATC I learned a lot and it gave me direction in wanting to pursue a career in education."

Capaccio, pronounced cah-PASS-see-oh, carved out a name and a reputation while playing basketball for MATC, especially as a hard-nosed rebounder that still ranks tied for fifth in program history with 467 career boards playing from 1976 to 1978. His tenacity on the glass earned him all-conference accolades in the Wisconsin Technical College Conference and a place in the Madison College Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Induction Class of 1993. It also landed him a chance to play at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. He led the NAIA Marauders with 252 rebounds as a senior, a number that still stands as the eighth best single-season total in school history.

"MATC more than anything gave me a chance in both the classroom and in athletics. I was a very poor student and never applied myself, so it was a real learning experience…It helped get me on a track to be successful in life, even though at the time I wasn't."

With his Bachelor's Degree in hand – he'd later add a Master's Degree from Drake University – and his mind set on coaching and teaching, Capaccio returned to Illinois and began coaching at NJCAA McHenry County College in Crystal Lake at the tender young age of 23. Following six years with the Scots – a tenure that included coaching against MATC – it was on to Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. His 11-year stint with the Falcons was highlighted by three consecutive NJCAA Division I National Championships, the last of which came with Capaccio at the helm and earned him NJCAA National Coach of the Year accolades.

Capaccio's career and life began to take a different path when he followed his next opportunity to coach at UNC-Wilmington in North Carolina. Serving the athletic department in several different capacities over eight years, he began carving out a niche in the world of fundraising and administration, eventually becoming the athletic director in October 2004. His leadership and fundraising skills eventually brought him back to the community college world at Brunswick C.C. in North Carolina to serve as the CEO of the school's foundation and director of development.

When asked what he learned from his coaching days that helped him in becoming a successful administrator, Capaccio says, "The most important thing is dealing with people and communication skills. When I started coaching I was a very, very negative individual. I always yelled and screamed. About six or seven years into it I sat back one day and said this isn't working, and took a totally different approach, a very positive approach with positive reinforcements. So I think really addressing the positive more. Right now I'm a very positive person. I come in smiling every day, I talk to my staff and encourage them, and it's worked a lot better for me. It's changed my life, to be honest with you."

While exceeding in the administrative world, collegiate athletics still called to him. So Capaccio, working as the VP of The Citadel's Foundation, jumped at a chance to help the Bulldogs as their interim athletic director, which culminated in his official hire in 2018. Leading a NCAA DI program at a US military school is not something 18-year-old Michael Capaccio would likely have ever thought possible.

Much of that credit falls directly at the feet of some hall of fame coaches from Madison College's past. After playing under eventual MATC coach and hall of famer Jack Brenegan in high school, Capaccio arrived in Wisconsin to begin learning from the school's original legend, Doug Redsten.

"Coach Redsten took me in and gave me a chance. I had a lot to overcome, but he stuck with me and I will always be grateful for that. I owe them both a lot, and I will never forget them…I remember all the coaches…Redsten, coach [Dennis] Hoeser a great guy who you could count on for advice, JoAnn Walker…all wanted to help you and see you succeed. I will always be thankful to them for putting up with me and trying to help me."

These days, Capaccio enjoys hunting and fishing, as well as spending time with his wife, two children, and their growing families. He also manages to stay in touch with several people from his MATC past, like former teammates Jerry Napp, Doug Wesloski, and Dale Tyler, who went to play alongside Capaccio at the University of Mary.

"[I mostly and fondly remember] my teammates and coaches, and I loved living in Madison, maybe a little too much."

Despite his busy schedule, Capaccio says he works hard to stay up-to-date on WolfPack athletics, and hopes more young people continue to realize the value that exists athletically and academically at Madison College.

He also had one other lasting memory, "But Gary 'Big Dog' Breneman is and always will be my main man. Loved that man!"

Capaccio offered some reflections on Madison College, as well as advice for current WolfPack student-athletes.


In addition to taking a look back at Capaccio's time at Madison College and his journey after leaving, the Citadel AD also took time to chat with Adam Eichstedt of Athletic Communications about the current state of college athletics during the on-going Covid-19 Pandemic. That conversation is available at the top of the story in the story image.

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