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CACLAX Podcasts
Our CACLAX podcasts are the best way to learn more about a NESCAC men's lacrosse program. We kicked off the series with interviews with NESCAC coaches and have begun to add some player conversations. Our goal is to make each episode relevant not only for fans of a particular programs, but also for all NESCAC fans. Please leave a review after you give us a listen -- especially if you're giving us 5 stars. :-) Enjoy!
2025 Podcasts
CACLAX Podcast Intro Episode
For a little background on why we launched our CACLAX podcast and our goals for this show, please click here.
John Raba - Wesleyan Head Coach
Coach Raba is a legend in the lacrosse coaching ranks. He has coached lacrosse at Wesleyan for the past 29 seasons and has won over 70% of his games during that time -- including the national championship in 2018. Beyond the continued success of Wesleyan this season, the most interesting part of our conversation centered on the made-for-Disney movie story of John Raba coaching his son Jack Raba in his final season of college lacrosse. Together, they are hoping for a Hollywood ending and another national championship for Wesleyan. Tune in on Spotify here or on Apple here.
Casey D'Annolfo - Tufts Head Coach
Coach D'Annolfo is one of the most successful coaches in D3 lacrosse history. He sports a gaudy 88% winning mark and the Jumbos are currently undefeated and ranked #1 in the nation. He explains some of the secrets behind Tufts' success, but the most interesting part of our conversation was when we asked him to settle the barroom debate over where Tufts would rank if they played in D1. Spoiler alert: Coach D'Annolfo does not suffer from a lack of confidence. Tune in on Spotify here or on Apple here.
Jim Nagle - Conn College Head Coach
Coach Nagle is a former 2X Patriot League coach of the year who took over the Conn College job on an interim basis in January 2020. He wasn't expecting a two-year battle with Covid restrictions as part of his rebuilding efforts, but he has succeeded in building a young team with lots of promise for 2024. Coach Nagle explains how the new NCAA playoff selection format favors the NESCAC. That discussion begins at the 16:00 mark. Tune in on Spotify here or on Apple here.
Dan Annino - Bates Head Coach
Coach Annino is a proven winner as a player and a coach. He is an Amherst alum who played in the national championship game under Coach Jon Thompson and later coached at Johns Hopkins. He is in the midst a turnaround at Bates, having inherited a team that went 1-12 and was hit hard by the effects of Covid. Smart money wouldn't bet against Coach Annino and this conversation will help explain why. He's the youngest coach in the league and is bringing new energy to recruiting and playing up in Lewiston. Tune in on Apple here or on Spotify here.
Bill Mason - Bowdoin Head Coach
Bill Mason got off to one of the fastest starts in the history of the NESCAC. In his first season in Brunswick, the voted him the 2022 Coach of the Year. Bill inherited a team that went 2-8 in its last full season before he arrived and he immediately turned the Polar Bears into an 18-3 juggernaut that made it to the NCAA quarterfinals. Last year, Bill continued his hot hand and took Bowdoin to the final four and an 8-2 record in the NESCAC. The big question for Coach Mason in 2025 is how he plans to replace one of the best graduating classes in the history of Bowdoin lacrosse. Three of his seniors from last season – Will Byrne, Ethan Barnard and Zach Goorno – are now playing for Michigan, Rutgers and Maryland respectively. Tune in to learn how Coach Mason plans to get the Polar Bears back to the Final Four again. You may listen on Apple here or on Spotify here.
Dave Campbell - Middlebury Head Coach
Dave Campbell won a D3 national championship in 2000 as a goalie for Middlebury. We think that 2025 may be the Panthers' best chance in years to replicate that feat. They return a stacked line-up of veteran stars who have gone to the Elite 8 for the past two seasons and are hungry for more. Coach Campbell discusses some of those big names along with insight into newcomers likely to make an impact. He also shouts out an opposing NESCAC player as someone that no offense wants to face. We riff on building team chemistry and what it takes to beat Salisbury's legendary head coach Jim Berkman. You may listen on Apple here or on Spotify here.
Owen Gaydos - Amherst Senior Walk-on
Owen Gaydos is one of our favorite glue guys of all time. He was a captain and successful wide receiver on the Amherst football team, racking up more than 1,000 yards. Instead of spending his time enjoying a senior spring and coasting to the finish line, Owen decided he wasn't quite ready to close the book on his NESCAC athletic career. Despite not playing lacrosse for nearly four years, he decided to try out for the team. When Coach Sean Woods announced to the locker room that he'd made the squad, the guys went nuts and the video went viral. Although unlikely to see lots of playing time, we are confident that Owen will make an impact nonetheless. You see, we'd met Owen back in 2022 when he was going absolutely bananas in support of his brother's Brown lacrosse team that had a magical run. Tune in to find out how Owen's rabid fandom and viral tweets landed him on ESPN and even landed him an internship. You may listen on Apple here or on Spotify here.
Will Hopkins - New NCAA Selection Process
Today's guest, Will Hopkins, is the Associate Director of the Championships Division of the NCAA. He is the man in charge of the new format for D3 lacrosse national championship selections and he does a great job explaining how this will work. He tells us how the new NPI will be used to choose the at-large teams and how they will be seeded in the big dance. BTW, not only is Will a very respected lacrosse administrator, but he also played the game at a high level on the great Delaware teams of the late ‘90s. His roommate was a guy named John Grant Jr., one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the game. You may listen on Apple here or on Spotify here.
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