Genyk served as the head football coach at Eastern Michigan University from 2004 to 2008, compiling a record of 16–42 in five seasons.
Jeff's father George Genyk played college football for the University of Michigan Wolverines, and served as a captain on the 1959 team.
Genyk graduated from Milan High School and went on to attend Bowling Green State University where he started at quarterback for the Falcons football team.
The 2005 season, Jeff Genyk's second as head coach, saw limited improvement as the Eagles finished with a 4–7 overall record (the same as 2004) and a 3-5 MAC mark.
He coached the season's final game against Central Michigan, a 56–52 upset in front of a home crowd in Ypsilanti.
[12] On February 9, 2018, it was announced that Genyk would again be rejoining the Northwestern coaching staff, this time as their special teams coordinator.
On December 28, 2023, five days after the Wildcats beat Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, it was reported that Genyk would not be retained by Northwestern.