Where Are They Now?

Matt DeGennaro

Football, 1987-90

The University of Connecticut’s football team has enjoyed unquestioned success over the last five years. Much of this success can be attributed to the strong play of the quarterback position.

Before the likes of strong quarterbacks such as Shane Stafford of the 90’s and Dan Orlovsky of 2001-04, there was Matt DeGennaro.

DeGennaro guided the Huskies football team to success on the field from 1987 through 1990. Setting the standard for how future Husky quarterbacks would be judged, DeGennaro led the team to a share of the Yankee Conference championship in 1989 as UConn had an 8-3 record. In his four year career, DeGennaro saw UConn win a total of 28 games.

Most impressive about DeGennaro’s athletic career were the numerous school records he set and the national, conference, and team awards he won. Playing football serves a great importance to the college lives of its players; but what one learns and takes away from the game is the true reward of the sport.

Originally from Union, N.J., DeGennaro received a number of scholarships to play college football. DeGennaro chose UConn out of a list of schools that included the likes of the University of Maine, Villanova and James Madison, following an initial visit to UConn in which he was introduced to both players and coaches.

After redshirting his freshman year, DeGennaro started as a sophomore (’87) and won the Rookie of the Year honor from the Yankee Conference. The following season DeGennaro won the Offensive Player of the Year award in the conference. In 1989, UConn won eight games and had a final national ranking of No. 17.

While at UConn, DeGennaro shattered almost every UConn passing record. Many of these records were passed again last season as Orlovsky enjoyed one of the better college football careers the state of Connecticut has seen.

“I’m honored that it took a NFL caliber player to break my records,” DeGennaro said. “I was really impressed when I met Dan as a player and as a person.”

While DeGennaro’s place among UConn’s elites is cemented firmly, he still attends UConn vs. Rutgers games near his home in New Jersey and occasionally comes up to the new Rentschler Field.

Like many at UConn feel, DeGennaro isn’t hesitant to say, “I’m really excited about what they’re doing now on that team.”

Initially following his collegiate football days, DeGennaro had try outs with a number of NFL teams before signing with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL during the ’94 season.

DeGennaro was on a depth chart loaded with talent including New England native Doug Flutie and former San Francisco 49ers turned Detroit Lions quarterback Jeff Garcia. An injury ended DeGennaro’s stint in the Canadian Football League and he returned to the roots his 1991 UConn diploma had taught him -- business administration.

Today, DeGennaro lives in Old Bridge, N.J., and in 2000, he started a consulting telecommunications firm for businesses. Living 20 miles from his old high school, DeGennaro and his wife Linda have three young boys -- Matthew 6, Nicholas 4, and Daniel 1.

While his kids are young and just entering their T-Ball stage of life, DeGennaro is cautious when talking about his kids’ possible future in football.

“Parents are too pushy these days, I want them to do what they enjoy doing,” says DeGennaro.

As it’s been said before, one may leave the game of football, but football never leaves one who has played the game. DeGennaro credits playing football at UConn with helping him persevere in many facets of life while also helping him become a better business and family man.

“Football taught me how to deal with adversity, taught me discipline, how to set goals and work as a team. I can be vocal, but I mostly try to lead by example of how I live my life.” DeGennaro said.

He best exemplifies the metaphor from above when he applies a sports example to the real world -- “It’s like being in a game with things not going your way. You fight through it to succeed. You use that kind of thing everyday.”

-- Curran Kennedy