Gennetti Saddened By Death Of His Former Coach Tony Reno

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Like so many others who walked into the Yale Bowl on Saturday, Merrimack College head football coach Mike Gennetti did so with a heavy heart. 

Tony Reno, the former head football coach of the Yale Bulldogs, died Friday. He was 52 years old. 

Gennetti's longstanding relationship with Reno predated Reno's time at Yale and Gennetti's two decades and counting at Merrimack. When Reno served as the defensive coordinator at Worcester State (1998-2002), he recruited Gennetti out of high school and coached the former defensive back and senior captain. 

"When we scheduled this game a couple years back, it was exciting because I was going to get a chance to compete against a guy that I considered a mentor to me as a player," Gennetti said. "He coached me for four years, recruited me out of high school, brought me to Worcester State. He probably ended up being a big reason I got into coaching."

Reno stepped down as the Yale head coach prior to the 2026 season after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. 

"It was really sad," Gennetti said. "You reflect a little bit. You got to coach a game, but it's in the back of your head."

Yale honored Reno with a moment of silence before the game.

"I feel for them. Feel for the family. The Yale community. He was such a great man, great leader, great coach and person," Gennetti said.

With Reno's son, Dante Reno, starting at quarterback, the Bulldogs defeated the Warriors at the Yale Bowl on Saturday.