NORTH ANDOVER — All football coaches have a lot on their plate.
For Mike Gennetti, with all the changes that have hit the Merrimack College football program, he’s needed multiple plates to make everything fit.
Three months have gone by since he was named the new head coach for Merrimack College football, and slowly he’s been able to empty a few of those extra plates.
He’s hired four new coaches, with one more to come.
After watching four starters leave through the transfer portal — including running back Tyvon Edmonds, Jr., who rushed for 1,300 yards — he’s slowly has put the roster together. That roster includes three transfers, two from Stonehill including a replacement running back, and former Central Catholic star Ayden Pereira, who left the University of Maine with hopes of getting a chance as the Warriors’ starting quarterback.
Since last year’s season ended with a loss in the Northeast Conference championship game, Merrimack (5-6) lost head coach Dan Curran and several of his assistants, who went to Holy Cross, while a handful of other talented players graduated, including two-time All-Conference center Antonio Derry.
In addition to that, Merrimack left the Northeast Conference and will be an FCS Independent team until they can find a new home. The 2024 schedule was completed recently by athletic director Jeremy Gibson and it includes two FBS teams — Air Force Academy and UConn — as well as eight FCS teams with Robert Morris, UMaine, Dartmouth, Morgan State, Stonehill, Sacred Heart, Colgate, Bucknell and Fordham.
The opener at Air Force (9-4 last year out of the Mountain West Conference) will certainly be an incredible challenge. Gennetti and his staff now have five months to prepare for it, with the ongoing spring practice schedule and the Spring Blue-Gold Game which will be held on April 11 at Duane Stadium (7 p.m.).
“We’re excited to be able to put this team in the big stage as we open the season against two FBS schools,” said Gennetti. “Obviously it’s the most challenging schedule we’ve ever played here. We’re playing three Patriot League schools, a CAC School and we have Dartmouth coming here for Homecoming. There’s no easy day on that schedule for sure.
“The trajectory of this place is that we’re trying to play at another level, push the program forward and hopefully get into a conference in a year or two, but who knows with all of the realignment with college football. We’re trying to position ourselves to be invited into a competitive conference at the FCS level.”
Gennetti has been with the program for the past 19 seasons, including 11 as the defensive coordinator. His defenses ranked among the best in both the Northeast-10 and Northeast Conference during his tenure, including coaching two All-Americans in Shawn Loiseau and Tony Johnson.
Before that he spent time as Merrimack’s linebackers and defensive backs coach. He started his coaching career at Worcester State, a year after he finished off an impressive four-year football career as a defensive back. All of that came after he played four years at Wilmington High as both a running back and a defensive back.
He spent 13 years coaching along with Curran and while things are different without his close friend by his side, this has been something Gennetti has waited for his entire life.
“It was the best decision for me and my family to remain here. This place is special to me,” he said the night he was named the program’s fifth coach.
Heading into this spring practice season, Gennetti said that quarterback Gavin McCusker is completely healthy, after a shoulder injury kept him out for most of last season. Malakai Anthony, who became the starter and threw for 795 yards with 8 TD passes, is back in the mix, along with Pereira.
Another transfer includes running back Jermaine Corbett, who has combined to rush for almost 1,700 yards with 18 touchdowns over the past two years at Stonehill. Providing depth in the backfield will include Brendon Wyatt, and another former Central Catholic Eagle-Tribune All-star Matthias Latham.
“(Latham will) help us for sure,” said Gennetti. “I love his attitude and his energy. He’s a hard-nosed kid who plays the game the right way. He’s a great teammate. He’s developing really well and his best football is still ahead of him. He’s a guy who seems to pretty reliable. He’s developing and is on a great track so nothing but positives for him.”
Merrimack is loaded at the wide receiver spot led by FCS Central Football All-American Donovan Wadley, who combined for 1,349 yards and 11 touchdowns between kickoff returns and as a wide receiver/running back.
Defensively, Sean Mercuri, also a former standout at Central Catholic and an Eagle-Tribune All-Star, should see more time at the inside linebackers spot, while, the Warriors have added Marc Christian Georges, a 6-0, 230-pound linebacker who had 23 combined tackles for Stonehill last year from the transfer portal.
Two other former Central Catholic stars return this year, including Mike Brown at running back and Mike Ryan, who will serve as the backup punter. Several local newcomers will be trying to make noise as walk-ons, including Whittier Tech’s Nick Almanzar and former Andover High and Phillips Academy running back/receiver Lincoln Beal.
“I told these guys right from the start that hard work does not guarantee us success,” said Gennetti. “It’s only going to guarantee us a chance at it. If we’re going to be successful, it’s going to come down to many other factors. (For instance) how much accountability do we have and what our execution level is going to be. At the end of the day, we have to work as hard as possibly can to at least give us a chance come the fall when we’re playing all of these games.”
Twitter: @JamiePote