JOHN CASEY

Tufts University’s John Casey, now in his 38th season with the Jumbos including 36 as head coach, is one of the most respected leaders in college baseball. Coach Casey served as President of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) for 2016. A member of the ABCA’s leadership team for several years, he ascended to the Presidency after serving as a Vice President for four years. He is a member of the ABCA Board of Directors. On the field, Coach Casey’s Jumbos have been one of the best teams in New England throughout his tenure. In 2017, he guided the team to its second straight New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship and fifth overall.

The Jumbos finished 30-10-1 after making their seventh NCAA appearance under Coach Casey. Tufts has played in the NCAA tournament two years in a row and five times in the last eight years, including 2016, 2014, 2011, and 2010. The 1995 and 2002 Jumbo teams also qualified for NCAA’s. NESCAC’s Coach of the Year for two straight seasons and three times overall, Casey’s teams have featured five players who signed professionally and several All-Americans. Randy Newsom, a 2004 Tufts graduate, signed with the Boston Red Sox. He was traded to Cleveland as part of a deal for Coco Crisp, and he advanced to the Indians’ Triple A affiliate in Buffalo. Pitcher Jeff Taglienti and outfielder Dan Callahan are also Jumbos coached by Casey who were drafted by Major League organizations. Pitcher Speros Varinos was honored as an All-American for the second straight year in 2017.

Several former players and assistant coaches under Casey are now successful coaches at the college or high school level. Paul Svagdis, a 1993 graduate, guided Azusa Pacific University to two straight NAIA College World Series berths recently. Jamie Pinzino, a 1997 Tufts graduate, is the pitching coach at Army. Former assistant coach Jason Tower is now the head coach at Roger Williams. Coach Casey and his wife Diane live in Milford. They have four sons – Brian, Kevin, Brendan and Chris. All have followed in their father’s footsteps as Brian is an assistant baseball coach at William & Mary, Kevin is the head coach at Johnson & Wales University, Brendan works under his dad at Tufts and Chris works with the Northeast Longhorns AAU team.