Casey D’Annolfo, a West Hartford native and member of the Conard High School Class of 2001 now coaches fellow Conard alum Jules Capone (Class of 2025), and together they helped secure Tufts University’s third consecutive national lacrosse championship.

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In his 10th season as the head men’s lacrosse Coach at Tufts University, Casey D’Annolfo (Conard 2001) coached his team to their third consecutive Division III NCAA National Lacrosse Championship on May 24, 2026 – defeating RIT 17-11 – but this time his team included Conard 2025 graduate, Jules Capone.

Both were multi-sport captains at Conard 24 years apart, with D’Annolfo playing football, basketball, and lacrosse, while Capone played soccer and lacrosse. D’Annolfo, who graduated from Tufts in 2006, played football, basketball, and lacrosse for the Jumbos.

“It’s really great to be able to share this National Championship with another Conard guy,” coach Casey D’Annolfo said. “One of the best parts of coaching is to be able to give your players memorable experiences that they’ll have for the rest of their lives, and to be able to do that for another guy who went to your high school and who is from your hometown is pretty special.”

“My first year at Tufts was beyond extraordinary,” said student-athlete Jules Capone. “We not only had such great success on the field, winning our third straight National Championship, but personally I grew so much as a person in all facets. What really separates our program from others is that all of us are so motivated and driven together toward one goal: winning a National Championship. Combining that momentous drive with a coaching staff who knows how to direct us and get the best out of each of us, creates such a special culture and team environment that is so unique. It was truly a remarkable first year and I can’t wait to get back to Tufts for year two,” he added.

The Capone Family holding the 2026 NCAA National Championship Lacrosse trophy (from left): Jackie, Jess, Jules, and Jeff. Courtesy photo

Academic excellence is also emphasized and celebrated by all teams at Tufts – and Capone was recognized for his stellar contribution to the lacrosse team with a 4.0 both semesters.

A culture of hard work is a staple of the Tufts lacrosse program and is wrapped in an unabashed love for one another. “I love this team so much and this senior class … what a journey they have had,” said D’Annolfo. “A record 85-5 and four appearances at the National Championships winning the last three … the first three-peat in Tufts history.”

Tufts has had the National D-3 Lacrosse Player of the Year the last four years, and a plethora of All-Americans and All-Academic student-athletes.

In his 10 seasons as Tuft’s head men’s lacrosse coach, D’Annolfo’s record is 167-19, making him one of the winningest lacrosse coaches in the country. Under his leadership they have won seven NESCAC titles, made nine NCAA Tournaments, four NCAA Final Fours, and three NCAA National Championships. D’Annolfo was named National Coach of the Year in 2024.

Casey D’Annolfo is the son of Suzi and Frank D’Annolfo, and brother to Matt (Conard 2003, captain of football and basketball). He lives in Andover, MA, with his wife, Sarah (an All-Ivy Lacrosse player at Dartmouth) and their three children, Oliver (12), Georgia (10), and Rory (8).

Jules Capone is the son of Jessica and Jeff Capone and has two sisters, Mason, who was Conard’s Title IX scholarship recipient at Conard in 2023 and is now a student at Dartmouth, and Jackie (Conard 2027) who plays soccer and is an All-State Lacrosse player who has committed to Middlebury College.

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