Tom Conley (American football)

Tom Conley
Conley receiving the Albert Russel Erskine Trophy for the national championship following the 1929 season.
Biographical details
Born(1908-05-07)May 7, 1908
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedDecember 14, 1976(1976-12-14) (aged 68)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1928–1930Notre Dame
PositionEnd
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1931–1932La Salle
1933–1935Notre Dame (ends)
1936–1942John Carroll
Basketball
1931–1933La Salle
1936–1943John Carroll
Head coaching record
Overall33–34–7 (football)
86–87 (basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Second-team All-American (1930)
Third-team All-American (1929)

Thomas Aquinas Conley (May 7, 1908 – December 14, 1976) was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. Conley played college football at the University of Notre Dame from 1928 to 1930. He was the captain of the 1930 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, which won a national championship. Conley was named a second-team All-American as an end that year. He served as the head football coach at La Salle University from 1931 to 1932 and at John Carroll University from 1936 to 1942, compiling a career college football coaching record of 33–34–7.[1] Conley was also the head basketball coach at La Salle from 1931 to 1933 and at John Carroll from 1936 to 1943, tallying a career college basketball mark of 86–87. He worked as an assistant football coach in charge of the ends at his alma mater, Notre Dame, from 1933 to 1935. A native of Philadelphia, Conley attended Roman Catholic High School there.[2]

Conley died from pneumonia, on December 14, 1976, in Chicago.[3]

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
La Salle Explorers (Independent) (1931–1932)
1931 La Salle 4–4
1932 La Salle 4–2–2
La Salle: 8–6–2
John Carroll Blue Streaks (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1936–1942)
1936 John Carroll 2–7 1–4 T–18th
1937 John Carroll 3–5 1–2 14th
1938 John Carroll 6–2–1 4–0–2 2nd
1939 John Carroll 7–1 2–1 T–8th
1940 John Carroll 2–6 0–3 T–17th
1941 John Carroll 2–5–1 1–2–1 T–11th
1942 John Carroll 3–2–3 3–0–1 2nd
John Carroll: 25–28–5 12–12–4
Total: 33–34–7

Basketball

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
La Salle Explorers (Independent) (1931–1933)
1931–32 La Salle 15–8
1932–33 La Salle 13–3
La Salle: 28–11
John Carroll Blue Streaks (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1936–1943)
1936–37 John Carroll 4–13 2–8 18th
1937–38 John Carroll 5–9 3–5 11th
1938–39 John Carroll 13–14 6–4 T–5h
1939–40 John Carroll 12–8 5–4 T–6th
1940–41 John Carroll 8–13 5–7 11th
1941–42 John Carroll 8–10 5–6 9th
1942–43 John Carroll 8–9 5–6 10th
John Carroll: 58–76 31–40
Total: 86–87

References

  1. ^ "Football Season by Season".
  2. ^ "Conley Lands Coaching Job; Notre Dame Captain to Tutor La Salle College Eleven in Home City". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. January 6, 1931. p. 10. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Google News.
  3. ^ "Conley, ex-JCU grid coach, dies in Chicago". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. December 15, 1976. p. 3F. Retrieved November 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .