Yale

Mike Gennaro, a decorated international and collegiate rower, joined the Yale heavyweight crew coaching staff as an assistant in August 2016 and made an immediate impact. The Bulldogs went on to win three consecutive IRA National Championships and Eastern Sprints titles from 2017 to 2019. In recognition of his contributions, Gennaro was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2021. 
 
Following the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yale returned to competition in 2022 with a dominant performance, claiming the EARC title and winning the Ten Eyck Trophy for overall team points at the IRA National Championships. In June 2023, Gennaro was named the Craig W. Johnson ’68 Head Coach of Heavyweight Crew. 
 
A native of Havertown, Pa., Gennaro began rowing at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, where he served as co-captain in 2007 and earned a seat on the U.S. Under-19 National Team 8+ that finished fifth at the 2007 Under-19 World Rowing Championships (Beijing, CHN). 
 
He continued his career at Syracuse University, serving as team captain and helping lead the Orange to their first IRA Grand Final appearance in 20 years. While at Syracuse, Gennaro also emerged on the international stage, representing the U.S. on three Under-23 National Teams. In recognition of his collegiate and international achievements, he was inducted into the Syracuse Rowing Hall of Fame in September 2024. 
 
Gennaro’s Under-23 career included a silver medal in the 4- at the 2009 Under-23 World Rowing Championships (Racice, CZE), silver in the 8+ in 2010 (Brest, BLR), and a gold medal in the 8+ in 2011 (Amsterdam, NED), where his crew set a world record time of 5:24. 
 
Transitioning to the senior level, Gennaro won two gold medals in the 8+ and 2- at the 2011 Pan American Games (Guadalajara, MEX). Those performances earned him a spot at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., and a role as an alternate on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team in London. 
 
He continued to train and compete with the U.S. National Team from 2013 to 2016.  
 
Highlights of his senior international career include: 

• 2013: Gold in the 4- at World Rowing Cup III (Lucerne, SUI) and bronze in the 4- at the World Rowing Championships (Chungju, KOR) 
• 2014: Silver in the 4- and gold in the 8+ at World Rowing Cup II (Aiguebelette, FRA) and silver in 4- at the World Rowing Championships (Amsterdam, NED) 
• 2015: Bronze in the 8+ at World Rowing Cup II (Varese, ITA) and a 7th-place finish at the World Rowing Championships (Aiguebelette, FRA)