Jeff Genyk

Jeff Genyk, one of the nation’s most respected special teams instructors and a former collegiate head coach, enters his second year on the Commodore staff. He serves as Vanderbilt’s special teams coordinator and running backs coach.

In 2016, Genyk mentored Ralph Webb to the best season ever by a Commodore running back. Webb’s single-season record of 1,283 yards enabled him to eclipse the team’s all-time rushing mark with 3,382 yards. Webb also scored 13 rushing touchdowns and remarkably did not have a fumble all season. A second running back, Khari Blasingame, contributed 10 rushing touchdowns.

Genyk also helped placekicker Tommy Openshaw produce one of the finest seasons ever by a Commodore. Openshaw’s 15 field goal conversions in 2016 ties for the fourth highest season total. Punter Sam Loy averaged 41.6 yards as a first-year contributor.

In 2015, Genyk rekindled a working relationship with Northwestern University, serving as a consultant to head coach Pat Fitzgerald on special teams, offense and game management. The Wildcats matched their highest win total in the last decade, going 10-3 and playing in the Outback Bowl. 

In 2013-14, Genyk coordinated special teams and worked with tight ends at the University of Wisconsin. During the two years at Wisconsin, he worked with Vanderbilt offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig under Badger Head Coach Gary Andersen.

The Badgers had plenty of successes, including capturing the 2014 Big Ten West title, beating Auburn in the 2014 Outback Bowl and playing in the 2013 Citrus Bowl. Genyk mentored All-Big Ten tight end Jacob Pedersen, recruited and coached Big Ten All-Freshman kicker Rafael Gaglianone, and oversaw significant improvement in virtually every area of special teams. 

Before joining Wisconsin, Genyk held similar positions at University of California under Head Coach Jeff Tedford. 

While in Berkeley, Genyk led dramatic improvement with the Cal special teams units, including back-to-back first-team All-Pac 12 selections in kicker Giorgio Tavecchio and punter Bryan Anger, who became a Ray Guy semifinalist and a third round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Anger is now a four-year veteran with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Genyk also coached current Green Bay Packers’ tight end Richard Rodgers at Cal. 

Genyk served as the head coach at Eastern Michigan from 2004-08. He coached the Eagles to their best conference finish in seven years in 2004 with a third-place showing in the West Division of the Mid-American Athletic Conference. 

While at Eastern Michigan he coached three All-Americans in linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw, defensive end Jason Jones and placekicker Andrew Wellock. Jones was a second-round selection of Tennessee in the 2008 NFL Draft who just completed his eighth professional season. Wellock was a finalist for the 2004 Lou Groza Award given annually to the nation’s top placekicker. He also coached offensive tackle T.J. Lang, who was selected by Green Bay in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft and continues as a standout on the Packers’ offensive front. 

After his tenure at Eastern Michigan, Genyk spent one season at ESPN, serving as a color analyst for Atlantic Coast Conference games. 

From 1994-2003, Genyk worked at Northwestern, with responsibility for the special teams unit during each of his final five campaigns with the Wildcats. He was also the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator for five seasons (1999-2003) after having worked with the safeties in 1998 and the outside linebackers in 1997. During his first five campaigns, he was the school’s Director of Football Operations from 1994-96 and a defensive graduate assistant from 1992-93. 

Genyk was on the Northwestern football staff for three Big Ten championship teams and four bowl appearances. The 1995, 1996 and 2000 teams all won Big Ten titles. The 1995 squad played in the Rose Bowl, the 1996 team was in the CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl and the 2000 club played in the Alamo Bowl. The 2003 squad participated in the Motor City Bowl. 

At Northwestern, Genyk mentored Fitzgerald as an All-America linebacker and defensive player of the year. He coached several other standouts at Northwestern, including linebacker and eventual first-round NFL pick Napoleon Harris and running back and Heisman Trophy finalist Damien Anderson. 

A native of Milan, Mich., Genyk was a quarterback and punter at Bowling Green State (Ohio) University from 1978-81. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Bowling Green in 1982. He later earned a Master’s of Business Administration and Marketing from Western Michigan University in 1989 and a Master’s of Education and Social Policy from Northwestern in 1994. 

Genyk and his wife Lisa are the parents of a son, Jake, and a daughter, McKenna. 

Genyk’s Coaching Career 
2016-17 – Vanderbilt-Special Teams Coordinator, Running Backs Coach 
2015- Northwestern-Special Teams, Game Management, Offense consultant
2013-14 – Wisconsin-Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends Coach
2010-12 – California-Special Teams Coordinator. Tight Ends Coach
2004-08 – Eastern Michigan-Head Coach
1999-2003 – Northwestern-Running Backs, Special Teams Coach
1997-98 – Northwestern-Linebackers Coach
1992-94 – Northwestern-Defensive Graduate Assistant
1990-91 – Grand Rapids (Mich.) C.C.-Quarterbacks, Tight End Coach