Over the last two decades, Merrimack has been among the top defensive football teams whether in the Northeast-10 Conference or the Northeast Conference.
The man behind that curtain for the past 18 years is now going to be the fifth coach in program history.
On Monday night, Merrimack Athletic Director Jeremy Gibson announced that Mike Gennetti, the team’s Defensive Coordinator since 2011 and linebackers coach the two years prior, will replace Dan Curran, who stepped down on Friday to become the new head coach at Holy Cross.
Gibson believes that Gennetti will be able to make the transition from DC to head coach, and take the program to a higher level.
“Mike has been a tremendously loyal and dedicated member of the Merrimack family and instrumental in our rapid ascension in FCS football.” said Gibson. “He is a fantastic coach and mentor and I am incredibly happy for Mike and his family as he elevates to this new role and leads our football program to new levels of success.”
When news broke on Friday that Curran was leaving, Merrimack quarterback Gavin McCusker said flat out, the team wanted Gennetti to be the team’s next leader.
“A lot of guys have full trust in him and we fully believe in him and fully support him to be our next head coach,” said McCusker on Friday afternoon. “I believe that we’re all hoping for that. We trust him a lot and the way that he commands his defense so I’m hoping to be looking forward to him commanding our entire team. He is truly a good leader and a lot of guys love getting behind him. I would like nothing more than play for Coach G (next season).”
In his 20-plus seasons in collegiate football, Gennetti has never been a head coach, but is thrilled for this opportunity.
“I want to thank President Dr. Christopher E. Hopey, Executive Vice President Jeffrey Doggett, Chief of Staff and Vice President Fr. Bryan Kerns and Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeremy Gibson for providing me the amazing opportunity to lead the Merrimack football program,” said Gennetti. “This is truly an honor and I’m excited for what lies ahead for our program. Go Warriors!”
In Gennetti’s first season as DC, Merrimack’s defense ranked second in the NE-10 in yards allowed per contest, and third in total sacks and fumble recoveries. Two years later, the Defensive Line led the conference and was one of the best groups in the entire country with 36 QB sacks. In 2017, the Warriors ranked second in the league in rushing yards allowed per game.
Then in 2019, when the team was elevated to FSC D1, Merrimack led the conference in sacks, ranked among the leaders in interceptions and tackles for a loss, all while coming through with an impressive 6-5 record.
Last year, Merrimack finished with an 8-3 record, and advanced to the conference championship game, and did so again this season.
Prior to Merrimack, Gennetti spent two years as the defensive backs and strength and conditioning coach at Worcester State College. During his first year as DB coach, the team’s passing defense, the team went from 17th in the nation to first.
Before getting behind the bench, Gennetti played eight seasons between four at Wilmington High and four at Worcester State. He was a four-year starter at WSU, captained the team as a senior in 2002. In 2000, he was named to the Worcester All-Area First Team, finishing sixth in the nation in interceptions (eight in nine games). In 2003, he was given the Senior Male Athlete of the Year award for leadership in sports at Worcester State.