Merrimack Warriors football

Intercollegiate American football team for Merrimack College

Merrimack Warriors football

| | 2025 Merrimack Warriors football team

|

First season| 1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Athletic director| Joe Foley
Head coach| Mike Gennetti
2nd season, 5–6 (.455)
Stadium| Duane Stadium
(capacity: 4,000)
Field surface| Synthetic turf
Location| North Andover, Massachusetts
NCAA division| Division I FCS
Conference| Independent
All-time record| 151–139 (.521)
Conference titles| 2 NE10 (2006, 2009)
Colors| Blue and gold[1]

Outfitter| Under Armour
Website| MerrimackAthletics.com

The Merrimack Warriors football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Merrimack College located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and plays as an FCS Independent. Merrimack's first football team was fielded in 1996. The team plays its home games at the 4,000 seat Duane Stadium in North Andover, Massachusetts. The Warriors are led by Mike Gennetti.

## History

[edit]

The Merrimack football program had its first official season in 1996. During this time the Warriors would play their home games at Martone-Mejail Field. Which also served as the schools soccer and softball field. Led by head coach Tom Caito the warriors played a 9 game schedule. That consisted of both Division III and Division II opponents. They ended up going 5-4 in their inaugural season.

Before the 1997 season the Warriors joined the Eastern Football Conference. The conference would shut down after only 3 seasons only lasting from 1997-2000. They would have their first really successful season in 1999 when they would go 7-3 overall and 6-3 in conference.

In 2001 the Warriors and all the other schools from the Eastern Football Conference would join the Northeast 10 conference. Going 6-4 in 2001 and 2002. Coach Caito would leave after the 2002 season and was replaced by Jim Murphy. The warriors would go 6-3 in 2003. Then in 2004 the Warriors would have there best season in program history with an 8-2 record but did not qualify for the NCAA tournament.[2] At the end of the year WR Elfren Quiles would be the first player in program history to be honored as an All American. After leading the nation in receiving yards per game. 2006 would end up being another historic season for the Warriors going 8-4 overall and 7-2 in conference play. Merrimack would also claim a share of the NE10 championship this season which was the first championship in program history. They would also qualify for their first and only appearance to the NCAA division II playoffs. The Warriors would host Southern Connecticut State in the first round and would win 28-26. They would then go on the road to face Shepherd in the second round falling 31-7 to the rams. For all the success during the season Murphy would be named NE10 coach of the year. Murphy would then leave after the 2007 season following a 4-6 record then being replaced by John Perry. The warriors would go 6-4 in Perry’s first year during the 2008 campaign season. In 2009 Perry would lead the Warriors to their second NE10 title going 6-2 in conference play and 7-3 overall. Despite this the Warriors would not qualify for the NCAA tournament. At the end of the season QB James Suozzo would be the first player in program history to be named NE10 MVP after averaging 325.1 total yards per game. After a 4-6 record in 2010. They would go 6-4 in 2011 and 2012 which would be Coach Perry’s final to years as he would leave to become the QB coach for Delaware in 2013.[3]

Warriors linebacker Shawn Loiseau would become the first player in program history to sign a NFL deal in 2012. After being NE10 defensive player the year in both 2010 and 2011.

The Warriors promoted assistant coach Dan Curran to replace Perry as their new head coach. The Warriors would kick off the 2013 season on the road against FCS school Wagner. This ended up being the programs first ever victory against a Division 1 opponent beating the Skyhawks in a high scoring affair 42-41.[4] The Warriors would finish the season 7-4 and would end the year with a 35-24 win over #8 Southern Connecticut State. Warriors QB Joe Clancy would also become the first ever NE10 QB to throw for 4000 yards in a season. This however would be the warriors last successful season at the D2 level. As they see mediocre results for the next 5 seasons.

During the 2017 season they would play their first season at Duane Stadium.

In 2019, Merrimack announced they would move their athletics program up to the Division 1 level and would join the Northeast Conference with football becoming a Division I FCS program. .[5] The Warriors would play a mix of Division 1 and Division 2 schools along with the Bishop Sycamore of college football, Virginia University of Lynchburg in their first D1 season. They would finish the year 6-5 with 3 of those wins coming against D1 schools Delaware State, Presbyterian and LIU. Early on in the 2021 season the Warriors would have their first game vs a ranked FCS opponent #24 Holy Cross. The Warriors pulled off the biggest win in program history beating the Crusaders 35-21. They would finish the year 5-6. Jacari Carter would become the first player in program history to be named a D1 all American at the end of the season. During the 2022 season they tied a program record in wins with a 8-3 overall record going 6-1 in conference play. The final game of the season ended up being a de facto conference championship game against the Saint Francis Sed Flash who were also carrying a 6-0 record in conference play going into the final week of the season. Due to the athletic program being in the last year of The NCAA's 4-year reclassification rule, the program was not eligible to qualify for the 2022 FCS Playoffs. The Warriors would end up losing 52-23 on home soil. In 2023 the Warriors would end up in the same position overcoming a poor start to the season. The Duquesne Dukes were also 4-2 in conference play heading into the final week of the season. This set up another defacto NEC Championship Game with the Warriors being eligible for postseason berth. The Warriors would meet the same fate falling 26-14 on home soil. This would end up being the programs last game in the NEC.

In October 2023 it was announced Merrimack would leave the NEC to join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference along with fellow NEC member Sacred Heart.[6] Due to the MAAC not sponsoring football, both Merrimack and Sacred Heart became FCS independents. Shortly after the 2023 season ended, Head Coach Dan Curran would leave the program to take up the same position at Holy Cross. The Warriors would end up promoting long time assistant Mike Gennetti to become the 5th Head Coach in program history. In his first season the Warriors finished with a 5-6 record in their first year as in independent during the 2024 season.

A game between Merrimack and Air Force in 2024

Wins vs Ranked FCS Opponents

* September 11, 2021 Vs #24 Holy Cross (the Warriors won 35-21)

### Classifications

[edit]

* 1996: NCAA Division III
* 1997–2018: NCAA Division II
* 2019–present: NCAA Division I FCS

## Conference memberships

[edit]

* 1985–1995: Independent

* 1996: Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
* 1997–2000: Eastern Football Conference
* 2001–2018: Northeast-10 Conference
* 2019–2023: Northeast Conference
* 2024-present FCS independent

## Head Coaches

[edit]

Tenure  | Coach  | Years  | Record

|
|
|

1996-2002  | Tom Caito | 7  | 34-33
2003-2007  | Jim Murphy | 5  | 30-21
2008-2012  | John Perry | 5  | 29-21
2013-2023  | Dan Curran | 11  | 53-58
2024–present  | Mike Gennetti | 1  | 5-6

Source[7]

## Championships

[edit]

### Northeast 10

[edit]

Year  | Coach  | Conference record  | Overall record  | Note

|
|
|
|

2006  | Jim Murphy  | 7-2  | 8-4  | Co champions with Post and Southern Connecticut
2009  | John Perry  | 6-2  | 7-3  | Co champions with Bentley and Southern Connecticut

## Player & Coaches Awards

[edit]

### Player Awards

[edit]

George H. “Bulger” Lowe Award

* Jermaine Corbett (2024)[8]

NEC offensive player of the year

* Donovan Wadley (2023)[9]

FCS All-Americans

* Jacari Carter (2021)[10]
* Victor Dawson (2022)
* Brandon Robert’s (2022)[11]
* Donovan Wadley (first team 2023)[12]
* Jermaine Corbett (second team 2024)[13]

D2 All Americans[14]

* Elfren Quiles (2004)
* Andrew Jackson (2006, 2008)
* Anthony Smalls (2009)
* Tony Johnson (2010)
* Shawn Loiseau (2010, 2011)
* Isaiah Voegeli (2011, 2012)
* Jere Brown (2013)
* Joe Clancy (2013)
* Quinn McDonough (2013)
* Ben Polci (2015)

NE10 Most Valuable player

* James Suozzo (2009)
* Isaiah Voegeli (2012)

NE10 Offensive player of the year[15]

* Joe Clancy (2012, 2013)
* Jere Brown (2015)

NE10 Defensive player of the year

* Jimmy Festa (1999)
* Shawn Loiseau (2010, 2011)

NE10 Freshman/Rookie of the year

* Elfren Quiles (2004)
* Chris Carter (2018)

NE10 Defsinve Lineman of the year

* Robert Slattery (1998, 1999)
* Tony Johnson (2010, 2011)

### Coach Awards

[edit]

NE10 Coach of the year

* Jim Murphy (2006)

Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Assistant Coach of the Year

* Mike Gennetti (2022)[16]

### Merrimack athletics Hall of fame

[edit]

The following is a list of people associated with the Merrimack football program who were elected into the Merrimack college Athletic Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses)[17]

* Andrew Jackson (2017)

* Tony Johnson (2019)
* Isaiah Voegeli (2023)

## Duane Stadium

[edit]

Duane Stadium 10/7/23 Merrimack Vs Stonehill

The warriors play their home games at Duane Stadium located in North Andover Massachusetts (capacity of 4,000). The stadium is named after Ken and Jincie Duane. Ken was a member of Merrimacks class of 1980 and was on the schools hockey and lacrosse programs. His wife served as a member of board of trustees. The stadium was opened in 2017 for bigger attendance figures as Merrimack’s enrollment began to grow.[18]

## Notable Players

[edit]

Name  | Position  | Years at Merrimack  | Teams

|
|
|

Shawn Loiseau | LB  | 2008-2011  | Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Massachusetts Pirates

Jay Nyamwaya  | DL  | 2022  | Pittsburgh Steelers

Massachusetts Pirates

Darion McKenzie  | DB  | 2017-2023  | Pittsburgh Steelers

Alouettes de Montréal

Anthony Witherstone  | DB  | 2017-2022  | Kansas City Chiefs

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

## Division II Playoffs results

[edit]

Merrimack has made one appearance in the NCAA Division II football playoffs; their record is 1–1.[19]

Year  | Round  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|

2006 | First Round
Second Round | Southern Connecticut
Shepherd | W, 28–26
L, 7–31
Playoff Record | 1–1

## Future opponents

[edit]

Announced schedules as of May 22, 2025[20]

2025  | 2026

|

at Kent State (8/30)  | at Maine (9/12)
Saint Anselm (9/6)  | at Delaware (9/19)
at Kennesaw State (9/13)  |
Central Connecticut (9/20)  |
at Stony Brook (9/27)  |
Robert Morris (10/4)  |
Maine (10/11)  |
at Harvard (10/18)  |
at Colgate (11/1)  |
at New Haven (11/8)  |
at Sacred Heart (11/15)  |
Fordham (11/22)  |

## Season-by-season record

[edit]

Season | Record

(Overall / Conference)

| Coach | Championships/

postseason

| Notes

|
|
|
|

1996  | 5-4 / 5-4  | Thomas Caito |  |
1997  | 3-6 / 3-5  | Thomas Caito  |  | Joined Eastern Football Conference
1998  | 3-6 / 2-6  | Thomas Caito  |  |
1999  | 7-3 / 6-3  | Thomas Caito  |  |
2000  | 4-6 / 4-5  | Thomas Caito  |  |
2001  | 6-4 / 6-4  | Thomas Caito  |  | Joined NE10
2002  | 6-4 / 6-4  | Thomas Caito  |  |
| 34-33 (.501) | Thomas Caito Career |  |
2003  | 6-3 / 6-3  | Jim Murphy |  |
2004  | 8-2 / 7-2  | Jim Murphy  |  |
2005  | 4-6 / 3-6  | Jim Murphy  |  |
2006  | 8-4 / 7-2  | Jim Murphy  | NE 10 co champions

NCAA D2 playoffs second round

Southern Connecticut (first round W 28-26)

Shepherd (second round L 31-7)

2007  | 4-6 / 4-5  | Jim Murphy  |  |
| 30-21 (.588) | Jim Murphy Career |  |
2008  | 6-4 / 4-3  | John Perry |  |
2009  | 7-3 / 6-2  | John Perry  | NE10 Co champions  |
2010  | 4-6 / 4-4  | John Perry  |  |
2011  | 6-4 / 5-3  | John Perry  |  |
2012  | 6-4 / 4-4  | John Perry  |  |
| 29-21 (.580) | John Perry Career |  |
2013  | 7-4 / 5-4  | Dan Curran |  |
2014  | 4-7 / 4-5  | Dan Curran  |  |
2015  | 6-5 / 6-3  | Dan Curran  |  |
2016  | 3-8 / 2-7  | Dan Curran  |  |
2017  | 4-6 / 4-5  | Dan Curran  |  |
2018  | 5-5 / 5-4  | Dan Curran  |  |
2019  | 6-5 / 0-0  | Dan Curran  |  | Joined FCS
2020*

(competed in spring 2021 due to COVID-19)

| 0-3 / 0-3  | Dan Curran  |  |
2021  | 5-6 / 2-5  | Dan Curran  |  | First Full season in the NEC
2022  | 8-3 / 6-1  | Dan Curran  | Lost de facto NEC championship game vs Saint Francis (52-23)  |
2023  | 5-6/ 4-3  | Dan Curran  | Lost de facto NEC championship game Vs Duquesne (26-14)  |
| 53-58 (.477) | Dan Curran

Career

|  |
2024  | 5-6  | Mike Gennetti |  | Became a FCS independent

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Merrimack College Brand Guidelines". Retrieved February 22, 2017.
2. ^ NE10 season archives https://northeast10.org/documents/2024/6/21/Football_Record_Book_-2023-24-_2.0.pdf
3. ^ John Perry resigns https://merrimackathletics.com/news/2013/2/7/2_7_2013_825.aspx?path=football
4. ^ Merrimack football schedule archives https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/football/schedule/2013
5. ^ merrimack joins the NEC https://northeastconference.org/news/2018/9/7/gen_merrimack_joins_nec_18.aspx
6. ^ Merrimack joins the MAAC https://maacsports.com/news/2023/10/22/baseball-maac-welcomes-merrimack-college-and-sacred-heart-university-as-newest-full-members.aspx
7. ^ Merrimack football season archives https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/2017/7/27/archives-football.aspx
8. ^ https://gridclubboston.com/2024/11/28/the-gridiron-club-of-greater-boston-announces-2024-college-football-awards/
9. ^ https://northeastconference.org/news/2023/11/2/FB_AllNEC_Release_23.aspx
10. ^ https://merrimackathletics.com/news/2021/12/14/footballs-carter-caps-sensational-season-with-freshman-all-american-honor.aspx
11. ^ https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2022-sophomore-all-american-bzbz/
12. ^ https://northeastconference.org/news/2024/1/3/football-merrimacks-donovan-wadley-snags-walter-camp-fcs-all-america-honors.aspx
13. ^ https://waltercamp.org/2024-walter-camp-football-championship-subdivision-all-america-team/
14. ^ https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/2017/7/12/All-Americans
15. ^ NE10 football history page https://northeast10.org/documents/2024/6/21/Football_Record_Book_-2023-24-_2.0.pdf
16. ^ https://merrimackathletics.com/news/2022/11/22/football-genetti-named-assistant-coach-of-the-year-by-gridiron-club-of-greater-boston.aspx
17. ^ Merrimack hall of fame https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/2017/7/12/HOF-index.aspx
18. ^ Daune Stadium review https://www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/duane-stadium-merrimack-warriors
19. ^ "2006 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 14. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
20. ^ "Future Merrimack Football Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved May 22, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

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* Official website

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