Following the 2025 season, in which Geneva went 6-5 overall and returned to postseason play for the first time since 2009, Geno DeMarco stepped down from his head coaching position and moved into an assistant role with the Geneva football program. DeMarco spent 33 seasons as head coach of the Golden Tornadoes, and has won more games as the Geneva head football coach than any other man in the 130 years since football began on College Hill in 1890. Taking over the program in 1993, Coach DeMarco compiled an overall record of 173-163, becoming the first Geneva coach to surpass the 100 victory plateau in 2007. In 2003, DeMarco surpassed his former coach, Gene Sullivan, for the most wins by any other Geneva coach. DeMarco was the longest tenured head coach in Geneva College football history, having surpassing his predecessor Gene Sullivan for most years on a Geneva sideline as a head coach. He retired as the longest tenured active head coach at any level of the NCAA. During DeMarco’s tenure, Geneva qualified for the NAIA national tournament four times, including the 2005 season, and six times DeMarco led the Golden Tornadoes to the NCCAA Victory Bowl, which Geneva won five of, the last coming in 2009. Geneva was invited to the post-season 14 times during his tenure. This long term success at one institution translated into DeMarco being one of the winningest coaches in the tri-state area of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. In the summer of 2023, DeMarco was inducted into the NCCAA Hall of Fame.
Along with Coach Sullivan and legendary Geneva head man By Morgan, DeMarco is one of only three coaches to lead Geneva’s program for 10+ seasons. DeMarco says, “I have to be one of the most blessed men in the world to have the opportunity to do what I love to do at a place like Geneva. We have outstanding young men come through our system and it is a true honor to have the opportunity to minister to them on a daily basis.” During his tenure, DeMarco garnered a number of Coach of the Year honors. He won a coaching award in 10 of his 33 seasons, including being named coach of the year in the Mid-States Football Association on three different occasions, and PAC Coach of the Year in his final year as head coach in 2025. In 2010, DeMarco and his staff were voted staff of the year within the NCCAA. DeMarco has been a part of Geneva football since he joined the Golden Tornadoes as a player in the early 1980’s. A standout linebacker for Head Coach Gene Sullivan, DeMarco became the school’s first NAIA academic All-American and was recently named as one of Geneva’s top 100 players from 1976- 2000. DeMarco also played baseball at Geneva for Joe Hudak. He earned All-District honors after hitting .407 in his junior season.
DeMarco began his coaching career as a defensive line graduate assistant at Georgia Tech under Head Coach Bill Curry in 1985. The next two years he coached the defensive secondary and defensive line at West Virginia University under Head Coach Don Nehlen. “The time I spent at Georgia Tech and West Virginia was a remarkable experience for a young coach. It was invaluable for me, both professionally and personally to learn under two outstanding head coaches.” Both Curry and Nehlen are now members of the College Football Hall of Fame. At Geneva, DeMarco broke the all-time victory record in Geneva’s next to last game in 2003 and put himself ahead of the Geneva coaching class. In the last 31 years, 161 of his players have followed their football career at College Hill into the ministry of coaching. DeMarco, who earned degrees in Psychology, Information Systems and Business Administration, was granted his Master’s degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University in 1986. DeMarco also teaches in Geneva’s nationally-accredited business program. DeMarco is one of four children of Rev. Eugene and Norma DeMarco to graduate from Geneva College. His youngest brother, David, was a quarterback for three years, while Sam earned four letters before graduating in 1986 and Marie graduated in 1988.
Coach DeMarco resides in Daugherty Township in Beaver County with his wife, Cheryl. The DeMarco's have four daughters - Alexis (Curry), Jessica, Grace and Rachel. He also has eight grandchildren.
Email Coach DeMarco at gdemarco@geneva.edu.
