Stepping into the shoes of a legend is never easy.

Replacing a close friend and ally? That can make the task that much harder.

Some bonds are unbreakable, however, and that’s a big reason why Jon Smith is flourishing in his new role at Concord-Carlisle this season.

“Every single coach in the program, I either know, or was coached by or coached with,” said Smith. “Which I think is really special. It really means a lot to me. I’m a 1992 grad of C-C, and there’s a couple kids on the team. Their dads and I played together. It’s one of those situations where I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else.”

Patriots fans were stunned on Feb. 11 when Tom Dalicandro stepped down as coach at Concord-Carlisle following a 24-year stint at the helm, and 31 years with the boys lacrosse program overall. Dalicandro won 336 games, including Div. 2 state championships in 2012 and 2021. He also fostered a lot of partnerships throughout the MIAA ranks, but his closest friend may have just been Smith, his longtime assistant and defensive coach.

Always loyal, it was Dalicandro who urged Smith to take a run at the position shortly after he departed. He later put in a recommendation for his assistant’s services with the school’s athletic department.

“We still talk every single day,” Smith said. “When he decided that he didn’t want to do the head coaching anymore, he really wanted me to go for the job. He was super excited when I got it. It was something we had talked about. Tommy is a little bit older in terms of age. We’re both teachers, so he’s a little bit closer to retirement than I am. We were kind of looking, when he was done, to keep the tradition going.”

The players were of the same mindset. After class one day, Patriots captain Eric Palmer and his fellow seniors strolled into Aaron Joncas’ office, attempting to see if they could influence the athletic director’s final decision. Their collaborative choice? Smith.

“At first, there was going to be an interview process,” Palmer said. “We were just kind of going through the motions. But we kind of talked to our athletic director, figured things out. It just seemed fitting that coach Smith would take over.”

It wasn’t an exhaustive search as 17 days later, the school promoted Smith to the head coaching position on Feb. 28. The Patriots were insistent on keeping the same philosophy, albeit with a few minor tweaks.

As Smith was introduced, all of his players greeted him in a jam-packed gymnasium, excited for what the season had in-store.

A few weeks into the season and Concord-Carlisle is off to a 5-1 start, with signature wins over Newburyport and most recently, Reading (a 10-7 victory Thursday).

“I think it’s really important that he’s there for us,” Palmer said. “He makes a big impact. Both on the field, definitely, because he knows what he’s talking about. But off the field, also, he’s a really good guy. He takes the time to talk to each of us, makes sure we’re doing OK in class. He really cares about the whole team, and he’s a big part of why we’re doing so well.”

Did you actually think Dalicandro was going to stop coaching altogether, however? Not a chance. After making the change, the longtime Concord-Carlisle boss reconnected with the staff at Bedford High, and took on a job as an assistant. Following a 1-17 finish last year, the Bucs are now off to an impressive 4-1 start.

Concord-Carlisle’s John Anderson and Alex Fivek celebrate their goal during a boys lacrosse game against Reading. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

“I just didn’t think I was going to take a whole spring off,” said Dalicandro with a chuckle. “I just had too much time on my hands. So, I met with them, and we just talked one day. Then we met a week later, and we just talked lacrosse. It felt like it was going to be a good fit in terms of what I needed, after coming off a pretty intense program for 30 years to do something different.”

Yet, Dalicandro still texts with Smith constantly, checking in. He can be found on X (formerly Twitter), posting updates on the top teams, and with plenty of Patriots news sprinkled in. He still teaches in his old town’s school system, and is still an assistant coach with Concord-Carlisle’s football team. The brotherhood remains strong, with both friends rooting each other on as they enter different stages of their respective careers. It is the first instance in over 20 years that the two are standing on separate sidelines.

“He’s earned the right to be the head coach at Concord-Carlisle,” said Dalicandro. “He’s the right guy at the right time. I definitely supported him, 150 percent. I knew that for the kids, the players of the Concord-Carlisle program, he was the absolute right guy to keep this thing going, and make it even better.”

A fourth-grade teacher at Concord’s Willard School, Smith has a little time to relax before making the five-minute drive around Walden Pond to Concord-Carlisle for practice.

The halls are always bustling, with countless students to teach.

For him, there are few changes to his daily routine. There are just higher expectations. That said, there is no place that Smith would rather be.

Concord-Carlisle’s Eric Palmer attempts to get past Reading’s Nolan Sullivan, right. Reading fell 10-7 in the boys lacrosse game. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

“A lot of the kids on the team right now went to the elementary school that I teach at,” Smith said. “Almost two-thirds of them did, so it’s something I really am grateful for. It’s awesome to be in a kid’s life for more than just one year, and that’s one of my favorite parts about coaching right in town.”