John Perry enters his second year as the fourth head coach in
Merrimack College football history.
In his first season, Perry guided the Warriors to a 6-4 record,
4-3 in the Northeast-10, finishing in third place in the
conference. The 2008 Warriors, who were 4-0 on the road against
Division II competition, allowed the fewest sacks in the
conference, while ranking second in the nation with 4.10 sacks per
game. Perry’s offensive-minded style resulted in school
records for most rushing yards in a game (358), total offensive
yards in a game (647), and first downs in a game (34) against Saint
Anselm. Andrew Jackson became the first first-team All-American in
school history, while 12 players were named to the Northeast-10
All-Conference team.
Perry, who has over 15 years of college football coaching
experience, started at Merrimack on December 28, 2007 after
spending last season as the associate head coach at the University
of New Hampshire, his alma mater. The Wildcats finished 2007 with a
7-5 record, reaching the Football Championship Subdivision
quarterfinals.
“My family and I are very excited about the opportunity that
has presented itself,” said Perry. “We are thrilled to
be the newest members of the Merrimack community. My experience
assisting head Coach Sean McDonnell and Athletic Director Marty
Scarano at the University of New Hampshire was something I really
appreciated.”
Perry replaced Jim Murphy, who resigned after five seasons as
Merrimack’s head coach.
A 1992 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Perry spent
the 2006 season as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at
Hofstra University. Prior to spending the 2005 campaign as the
associate head coach for Georgetown University, he served as the
offensive coordinator at Dartmouth College from 2000 through
2004.
At Dartmouth, Perry immediately transformed the offense when he
joined the team in 2000 and helped the Big Green rank eighth in
passing and 10th in total offense nationally at the end of the 2002
campaign. Two Dartmouth quarterbacks under Perry’s tutelage,
Brian Mann and Greg Smith, ended their careers ranked among the Big
Green’s all-time passing and total offense leaders.
From 1997-99, Perry coached receivers and was the recruiting
coordinator at UNH. He spent three seasons coaching receivers at
Brown, including Sean Morey, the Ivy League’s outstanding
rookie in 1995 and the Ivy’s outstanding player in 1997.
Perry’s coaching career began at Northeastern, where he
worked with the running backs in 1992-93.
Perry, who graduated with a double major in communications and
history at UNH, earned conference All-Academic team recognition. As
a Wildcat, he was a two-sport athlete also lettering in basketball.
Perry was a record-setting receiver in football (he caught passes
in 42 straight games), a two-time all-conference selection and was
a four-year letter winner. A captain in 1992, he helped lead the
Wildcats to the Division 1-AA playoffs in 1991.
He and his wife, Jen, a Merrimack graduate, have three children,
Cailtin, John and Elizabeth and reside in North Andover, Mass.
Scott Sperone enters his second season as the defensive
coordinator at Merrimack.
Under Sperone’s leadership, the 2008 Warrior defense ranked
second in the nation with 4.1 sacks per game, while defensive back
Andrew Jackson became the first first-team All-American in school
history
Sperone comes to the Warriors from Brown University when he was
the running backs coach in 2006 and 2007. He also prepared practice
schedules and offensive scripts, while managing the Junior Varsity
offense.
A 2001 graduate of Springfield College, Sperone has also coached
at Williams College, Stonehill College, Springfield College, and
King’s College. He earned his Master’s in Education
from Springfield in May of 2004.
While at Springfield, Sperone played free safety and strong safety
from 1997 to 2000.
He also served as an assistant swimming and softball coach at
Williams College and was a volunteer head coach for the Montville
Shamrocks and Montville American Legion baseball.
Ben Martin enters his second season as an assistant coach with
the Warriors. Martin will work primarily with the offensive line
and will serve as the recruiting coordinator.
The 2008 Warrior offensive line allowed just 15 sacks in 444
attempts, the fewest in the Northeast-10 by 17 sacks. Three
offensive linemen were named to the Northeast-10 All-Conference
team, including first-team selections Jacob Bradley and David
Bellmont.
Martin came to Merrimack from Curry College, where he worked with
the offensive line and tight ends. He also served as the
team’s video, recruiting and equipment coordinator.
A 2005 graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut,
Martin was part of a Trinity team that won three straight NESCAC
Championships and set the conference record for the longest
consecutive win streak.
Martin, who attended St. John’s Preparatory High School,
currently resides in North Andover.
Mike Gennetti returns for his fifth season as part of the
Merrimack College football coaching staff. For the second straight
year, he will coach the linebackers after coaching the secondary in
2007. He will also be responsible for recruiting Eastern
Massachusetts.
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.
John Kuhne begins his second season on the Warriors’
coaching staff and will serve as the running backs coach for the
2009 season. In 2008, Kuhne volunteered his services to the
football squad.
Kuhne has coached football in New England since 1992 and most
recently coached at Stoneham High School as the Assistant Head
Coach and Offensive Coordinator in 2008. He has also coaches the
Northeastern Knights in the New England Football Semi-Pro League as
the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. Kuhne has also
coached at Woburn High School, Timberlane Junior Football, and
Reading Pop Warner Football.
He graduated from Northeastern University in 1992 with a degree in
electrical engineering technology.
Kuhne currently resides in Wilmington.
Dan Ballou begins his second stint at Merrimack College and his 7th season on the collegiate level as the Warriors Tight Ends Coach.
He comes to Merrimack from Northeastern University where he coached receivers for two years. Last season, he helped the Huskies young group of receivers rack up over 60 receptions.
Before arriving at NU, he spent four seasons as the Wide Receivers coach at Merrimack College. Ballou coached the wide receivers and worked extensively with Merrimack’s special teams units. Under his direction, the Warriors’ kick off unit improved from last to first place in the Northeast 10 Conference. Ballou also coached several All-American and All-New England players. Prior to his stint at Merrimack, Ballou spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Wilmington High School in Wilmington, Mass. There, he worked with the receivers, defensive backs and specialists.
Ballou was a four-year starter for Wake Forest from 1993-97. He
graduated with a degree in Speech Communications in 2002.
Mike DiCenso enters his first season at Merrimack and will serve
as the defensive line coach.
DiCenso brings eight years of coaching experience, including four
years at Arlington Catholic High School as the offensive line coach
and special teams coordinator. He spent 2008 as the co-offensive
coordinator at Framingham State, where he coached the first 1,000
yard rusher in program history. DiCenso also coached at Curry
College in 2007, serving as the defensive backs coach for the NEFC
champions.
A 2002 graduate from Bridgewater State where he played offensive
line, DiCenso teaches adapted physical education for the LABBB
Collaborative Program in Lexington and currently resides in Lowell
with his wife Angela.
Pat O’Toole begins his second season with the Warriors,
serving as the outside linebackers coach. Under
O’Toole’s supervision in 2008, freshman Tony Johnson
set the school record for sacks with a conference-best 11.5 sacks,
while earning first-team all-conference honors.
