Jennifer LaCapra

Oxford, CT

Jennifer “Jen” LaCapra is a Unified Sports® basketball coach who will accompany her team when they go to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis. Jen lives in Oxford and is a physical education and health teacher and Unified Sports® coach at Oxford High School. 

Jen has been involved in Special Olympics since she was eight years old, when her father was the site director for a Special Olympics basketball tournament in Waterbury and brought her along with him. “Watching the athletes compete with heart, determination, and joy sparked something in me that’s never faded,” says Jen. 

Jen launched the Unified Sports® program at Oxford High School in 2012 with 17 students - now 76 students are involved!

Jen is most proud of the little things, such as when she sees an athlete calling for the ball, a partner cheering for a teammate, or a shy teammate confidently introducing themselves. “It is all worth it in the end and why I coach Unified Sports®,” says Jen.

Jen has won numerous awards for her role as Unified Sports® coach, including the CIAC George Synnott Coach of the Year and the Connecticut High School Coach of the Year Award. 

Jen’s leadership inspired Oxford High School winning the 2012-13 Ann Malafronte Rookie Team of the Year Award and the Michael’s Cup Unified Team of the Year Award in 2014 and 2022. She received the Special Olympics North America Unified Champion Schools® Coach of the Year in 2020. And, she inspired the Oxford High School Unified Sports® basketball team to be the first to win the Level 1 State Basketball Championship - in 2025!

In addition to all she’s done with and for Special Olympics, Jen ran the Best Buddies program at Oxford High School for five years and is a freshmen class advisor.