Primary Recruiting Areas: Northeast New Jersey, Connecticut
After 19 seasons as an assistant for the Warriors, Mike Gennetti was named the head coach of Merrimack College football during the summer of 2024.
Since becoming a Division I institution, Gennetti has been on staffs that have made it to the Northeast Conference championship game in back-to-back seasons. Gennetti, who calls the plays on the defensive side of the ball had his defense rank first in the country during the 2023 season in third down conversion rate.
Gennetti's staff has guided a defense has enjoyed tremendous success in recent seasons, transforming the group into one of the most respected units in the Northeast.
The 2021 season had tons of growth for the Warriors, as they beat #24 Holy Cross for their first win against a ranked FCS opponent, 35-21. Gennetti's defense held the Crusaders to 355 yards that day and also forced a pair of turnovers to help secure the stunning upset. Merrimack went on to a 5-6 overall record, including a pair of NEC victories, and the defense was honored with four players on NEC all-conference teams. Caleb Holden was one of those all-conference honorees and also earned an invite to the 2021 FCS Bowl after the season concluded.
Transitioning into the program's first season at the NCAA FCS level as members of the Northeast Conference (NEC) in 2019, Gennetti's defense proved its merit against the program's new foes. Merrimack led the conference in sacks, while ranking among the leaders in interceptions and tackles for loss. Merrimack also had the third ranked defense in points allowed and yards allowed per game. Sophomore Cory Hagerman finished the season tied for the NEC lead in sacks, while defensive backs Darion McKenzie and Caleb Holden were among the league leaders in interceptions and pass break-ups.
Despite an array of injuries that threatened to unravel the season before it even began, Gennetti's defense had another admirable season in 2018, finishing the year ranked sixth in the conference in points allowed per game. Merrimack also had the second-best turnover margin in the league thanks to 17 takeaways, the fourth-best figure in the conference. The Warriors averaged just under two sacks per game and had the fourth-best red zone defense in the conference. Merrimack also saw five players garner all-conference accolades on the defensive side of the ball in 2018, one of the highest showings in a single season in recent memory for the unit.
In 2017, the Warriors were a top-four unit in the league in yards allowed per game (348.9). More impressively, Gennetti's defense had one of its best seasons against the run in program history, ranking second in the conference allowing only 124.3 rushing yards per game. That mark was better than traditional defensive powers Assumption, AIC and Stonehill. Not surprisingly, the Warriors were lethal in the trenches, ranking second in the league with 25 sacks -- trailing only eventual league champion and nationally ranked Assumption in that department. Merrimack boasted four players with four or more sacks on the season, a distinction shared only by Assumption. Gennetti saw interior lineman Jesse Jones earn all-conference first team honors and redshirt freshman linebacker Jake Ragusa garner all-rookie team accolades by season's end to highlight a fantastic defensive showing last fall.
In 2016, the defense saw two of its members named to the Northeast-10 All-Conference Team, with Josh Hill '17 earning a spot on the unit's first team. Hill led the league in sacks -- marking the second straight year that a Warrior has led the league in that category -- and was ranked in the top-30 nationally in sacks per game. Hill was also an all-region selection, as well.
Merrimack enjoyed its best defensive season in recent memory during the fall of 2015, when it ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, yielding only 18.0 points per game, to account for easily the most-improved unit in the league. Those numbers indicated more than a 10-point improvement from the previous fall, when the Warriors ranked eighth in the league in scoring defense.
Gennetti also helped coach one of the best defensive lines in the conference and country that year, one that led the league with 36 sacks. In addition, Gennetti saw three members of that defense earn all-conference recognition in 2015, while two more earned CCA All-Super Region I status, as well. Ben Polci '16 went on to be named an honorable mention All-American, as well.
In 2014, Gennetti's defense made tremendous strides and boasted two all-conference performers. The Warriors ranked in the top-five in the league in interceptions and forced fumbles, indicative of just how much progress the team made with an infusion of top-quality recruits in the previous offseason.
In his first season as defensive coordinator, Gennetti's defense ranked second in the NE10 in yards allowed per contest and ranked third in total sacks and fumble recoveries.
Gennetti's active ball-hawking defense produced two All-American's during the 2011 season. Shawn Loiseau and Tony Johnson were not only All-Americans; they were also the Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year, respectively. Both players won their respective award for the second time.
Loiseau and Johnson left North Andover following the 2011 season as the best linebacker and defensive lineman to ever play for the Warriors, respectively, while working under Gennetti.
Formerly the linebackers coach, Gennetti’s linebackers anchored the Merrimack defense in 2009 and 2010, as Loiseau set the school record for tackles in consecutive seasons, while earning Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010.
Prior to his current post, Gennetti spent two years as the defensive backs coach and strength and conditioning coach at Division III Worcester State College.
During his time at Worcester State, Gennetti helped the Lancer defense make one of the most dramatic improvements in one year. In passing defense, the team went from 17th in the nation in 2003 to first in 2004. While at Worcester State, he coached three all-conference players, including the 2003 MASCAC Rookie of the Year.
Gennetti was a four-year starter at defensive back at Worcester State, and 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.
A 2003 graduate of Worcester State, Gennetti earned a Bachelor of Science degree in public policy and community development.
Gennetti currently resides in Derry, New Hampshire, along with his wife Erin and his three children, Lily, Jack and Juliana.
