St. Mark’s DiGennaro named state track coach of year

Coach Mike DiGennaro has been coaching track and field for more than 20 years.

The inspiration from two Delaware legendary coaches has led to a 22-year career and plenty of achievement for a track and field coach at St. Mark’s High School .

Coach Mike DiGennaro has been named the 2024 Boys’ High School Track & Field Coach of the Year for Delaware by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association .

He ran for Delaware Sports Hall of Fame Jim Fischer when he studied at the University of Delaware and trained with him for almost a decade after graduating.

“I kind of just watched the way he built his programs, the way he inspired his athletes, not just in cross country, but in track, and kind of molded my program after that,” DiGennaro said. “I watched his method of treating every athlete the same, from the number one guy on the team to the last guy in the team, just making sure that everybody mattered, and building a program and taking care of every single event in track and taking care of just every athlete.”

When he himself started coaching in Delaware, he said he drew inspiration from Joe O’Neill who coached at St. Mark’s for 40 years.

DiGennaro took over the program after O’Neill passed away in 2008.

DiGennaro’s success

DiGennaro’s award is timely as his team went undefeated last season and won the DIAA State Championship.

The team also earned first place at the New Castle County Championships and the Catholic Conferences.

It was also voted Delaware Boys’ Team of the Year by the State Coaches Committee.

“This award is a culmination of years with these guys and girls, of just building a program and building a team, and it all coming together this year,” he said. “It’s just been a lot of fun to work with athletes that are not just talented, but motivated, and I think this is also about all of them.”

And his athletes love him too.

“I think it’s revitalizing to go into a race knowing that you have a coach who’s excited for you, who’s ready to push for you, who’s ready to scream at that 200-meter mark while you’re finishing a 1600-meter race,” said Patrick Hogate, a rising senior.

Jude Rykaczewski, who graduated from the Wilmington Roman Catholic high school in the spring, said he’d talk to Coach DiGennaro before all of his races.

“I always go to him and ask him, ‘What do you think I should do? How should I attack this?’ and him just always being there and just being able to critique me and make sure I finish my race, it is definitely helpful,” he said.

DiGennaro said he’s evolved as a coach, in that during the first few years, he was almost prioritizing getting close with the kids and making sure everybody was comfortable in the program and having fun.

“We had goals, but it was more about just kind of building a team and building a culture,” he said. “It took a while for that culture to take off, and over the last five years, we’ve really taken off.”

He said over his two-decade career, he’s learned that there are plenty of ebbs and flows during the seasons, talented athletes come and go, but maintaining consistency and having a culture over years has helped develop a program he’s proud of.

“Having someone who’s behind you, ready to push for you and who’s there to see you through every practice all the way to the state championship, I think that’s really where our success came from, and I think that’s where success continues,” Hogate said.

DiGennaro has earned several personal accolades including Delaware Boys’ Head Coach of the Year and New Castle County Boys’ Coach of the Year, and now has this recognition to add to his résumé.

As a state winner, he’s now in consideration for the National High School Track & Field Coach of the Year award.