Villanova University

Andy Talley

Villanova head coach Andy Talley will be walking the sidelines for the 21st season as a collegiate head coach, including his 16th as the Wildcat leader in 2000. Last season, Talley garnered yet another coaching milestone when he recorded his 100th career win at Villanova with a 31-28 win at Atlantic 10 rival New Hampshire. The winningest coach in school history, Talley’s record on the Main Line currently stands at 101-60-1. Just three years ago on Oct. 5, 1996, Talley registered his 100th career coaching win in a 38-27 victory at Connecticut. His 20-year overall coaching mark currently stands at 129-78-2. His 129 wins currently ranks him 12th on the NCAA I-AA coaching victory list and he is 23rd nationally in winning percentage.

Talley continues to make a name for himself and his program on not only the conference level, but on the national scene as well. Last year, Talley led a Wildcat team picked sixth in the pre-season Atlantic 10 Conference poll to a 7-4 overall record and an impressive 6-2 mark in Atlantic 10 play which was good enough for a third place finish. Villanova finished 1999 ranked No. 24, marking the third time in the last four years that the ‘Cats ended the season nationally ranked. For their efforts last year, 12 Wildcat players were named to the All-Conference teams as voted on by the league coaches.

In 1997, Talley led his Wildcats to the first-ever undefeated, untied full season in Villanova gridiron history. While leading his troops to the undefeated campaign, Talley also guided the Wildcats to a No. 1 national ranking for the final six weeks of the regular season. This was the first time in school history that a Villanova football team was ranked No. 1 in the polls. On their way to being named the 1997 ECAC Team of the Year, Talley and the Wildcats set 41 school records. After claiming the inaugural Atlantic 10 championship in 1997 with a perfect 8-0 conference mark, Talley and his team were rewarded for their fine season with a bid to the NCAA I-AA playoffs. This playoff appearance marked the fifth time in nine seasons that Talley had led Villanova to a I-AA playoff bid. In the playoffs, Villanova accomplished another first, as the ‘Cats claimed the school’s first-ever I-AA playoff win with a 49-28 victory over Colgate. In the quarterfinals, Villanova’s dream season came to a close with a hard-fought 37-34 defeat to eventual National Champion Youngstown State.

When you have a season like Talley and the Wildcats had, individual honors are sure to follow. For his efforts in 1997, Talley won virtually every coaching award possible. At a banquet in New York City in early December, Talley was presented the prestigious Eddie Robinson Award as the nation’s top coach in all of I-AA. A few weeks later, he garnered th AFCA/GTE National Coach of the Year Award. As part of winning this distinction, Talley was selected to serve as an assistant coach at the 1998 Hula Bowl. In Hawaii, Talley assisted Ohio State head coach John Cooper, serving as the secondary coach for the North squad. In addition to these awards, Talley was named the recipient of the first-ever Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Award.

Individually, many of Talley’s 1997 players had numerous honors and awards bestowed upon them. Led by All-American wide receiver Brian Finneran, who earned the Walter Payton Award as the nation’s premier offensive player in I-AA football, Villanova had 11 players earn All-Atlantic 10 honors and seven players claim All-ECAC distinction. In addition, sophomore quarterback Chris Boden was named to a number of All-America teams.

On Sept. 30, 1995, Villanova defeated the University of Buffalo, 28-3, giving Talley his 67th win as Villanova’s head coach, surpassing Harry Stuhldreher for the most victories in Villanova football history. About to enter his 16th season on the Main Line, Talley can feel responsible for every facet of the Villanova program, having started it from scratch in 1985. In his 16 years at Villanova, Talley’s successes have been numerous. When he arrived on May 29, 1984 as the school’s 29th head coach, there was no team. The program had been dropped following the 1980 campaign and had now been restored, with Talley being given the job of building a program. He set out to build not only a winning team, but one that alumni all over the country could be proud of.

In his first season, Talley guided the Wildcats to a perfect 5-0 in a limited schedule and since that season Talley has not let his troops look back. Since that opening campaign, Talley has led Villanova teams to NCAA Division I-AA Playoff appearances in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 1997. His 1989, 1991, and 1997 teams were Conference champions, while the 1992 squad was voted the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy champions as the top I-AA team in the East.

Before coming to Villanova, Talley served as the head football coach at St. Lawrence University, where in 1982, he led St. Lawrence to the Division III Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the top team in the East. That year, Talley was named the American Football Coaches Association/Kodak Division III Region I Coach of the Year, as well as the Metropolitan New York Sportswriters/ECAC Coach of the Year, which were the same awards he would go on to win in 1991 at the 1-AA level at Villanova.

Not only has he won as a head coach everywhere he has been, Talley has been associated with nothing but winning programs since his coaching career began in 1967. The record of all his teams as both an assistant and a head coach is a gaudy 207-98-4.

In addition to the great teams he has built, Talley has also been able to lead great players as evidenced by the seven first team All-Americans he has coached at Villanova. The first was offensive guard Paul Berardelli who earned American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)/Kodak All-America honors in 1988. Center Bryan Russo also earned AFCA/Kodak honors as well as Sports Network mention while a member of the 1989 NCAA I-AA playoff team. Linebacker Curtis Eller was twice an AFCA/Kodak first team selection for the 1991 and 1992 playoff teams and garnered Associated Press honors in 1992. Eller was also a two-time Yankee Conference Defensive Player of the Year selection in 1991 and 1992.

In 1994, junior linebacker Tyrone Frazier was named AFCA/Schooner’s and Sports Network first team All-American, while in 1997 wide receiver Brian Finneran earned All-America honors from every organization, in addition to being named the Walter Payton Award as the nation’s top I-AA offensive player. Finneran was also named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and ECAC Player of the Year. A year earlier in 1996, Finneran earned All-American honors from the AFCA. Also, in 1997, quarterback Chris Boden earned numerous All-American accolades including selection to the Walter Camp All-America Team. In 1998, sophomore running back Brian Westbrook earned first team All-American honors from both the Associated Press and The Sports Network. In addition, Westbrook became the only player in the history of NCAA football at any level to rush for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season. Last season, wide receiver Murle Sango earned second team All-American acclaim after setting a school record with 98 receptions. Over the last four seasons, Villanova has had a player earn All-American honors each and every season.

For Talley, however, these accomplishments are not enough. While helping to continue the tradition of 100 years of Wildcat Football, he sees a bright future for a football program that is already established as one of the East’s elite. Perhaps of greater importance to Talley than wins, losses and athletic accolades are the types of students and people that his program turns out. In the last 15 years, Villanova has had nine GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. On the 1994 Yankee Conference All-Academic team, the Wildcats were represented by 14 players, more than any other team in the league.

Away from the football field, Talley is appreciative of the opportunities provided to him through athletics, and is continually looking to give something back to others. The area off the field to which he dedicates most of his time is the National Bone Marrow Foundation. With this group, he works to have potential bone marrow donors entered in a national bone marrow registry, increasing the odds of a needy patient being able to find a “match” for their bone marrow. Leading this fight locally, he has rallied most of the Philadelphia-area college football programs in his “Football United for Life” campaign. Since November 1, 1993, he has been responsible for over 3,000 people being tested with the National Bone Marrow Donor Program.

Talley also often acts as a featured speaker at many business and community functions. He initiated the St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children visitation program in which players visit the hospital once a month during the school year to spend time with sick children. He also serves on the American Football Coaches Association All-American selection committee and is the chairman of their summer manual committee. He acts as Chairman of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame screening committee as well as President of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Philadelphia Chapter. In December of 2000, Talley will be one of two chapter presidents to be honored by the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and will receive an award for his leadership of the Philadelphia Chapter at the fames Waldolf Historia Hotel. Talley was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award in January of 2000 by the All-American Football Foundation.

Talley’s coaching career began at Simsbury (Conn.) High School in 1967 where he was an assistant coach for two years. In 1969, he became the defensive secondary coach at Springfield (Mass.) College for one year and then was the offensive backfield coach at Middlebury (Vt.) College from 1970-73.

Talley had his first experience of rebuilding a program when he became the offensive backfield coach at Brown University in 1973. Having experienced several losing seasons prior to 1973, Talley was on the staff while they compiled a 36-15-2 overall record in six seasons, including the school’s only Ivy League title in 1976.

From there he was named the head coach at St. Lawrence (N.Y.) University, a position he held until his appointment at Villanova in May, 1984. Talley rebuilt the St. Lawrence program, and led the Saints to a 28-18-1 record in five seasons, including an undefeated regular season in 1982 when he advanced to the NCAA Division III semi-finals.

A graduate of Haverford (Pa.) High School just five minutes from the Villanova campus, Talley is a native of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. During the winter of 1996, Talley was inducted into the Haverford Hall of Fame. He played four seasons at defensive back for Southern Connecticut University, graduating with honors in 1967. In the spring of 1998, Talley was inducted into the Southern Connecticut Hall of Fame. He earned his Masters degree in Education from Southern Connecticut in 1969.

Talley and his wife, Arlene, reside in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of two children: Josh, 25, a graduate of both Brown University, and Villanova Law School and Gina, 16, who is an 11th grader at Conestoga High School.

Fight for a Cause

Talley's Fight for the Bone Marrow Donor Program

Away from the football field, Villanova University head football coach Andy Talley is actively involved in numerous community programs, but foremost among his efforts has been the National Bone Marrow Donor Program.

Nationally, the odds are one in 20,000 of finding bone marrow donors for those with life-threatening blood diseases, such as leukemia. For members of the African-American community, the odds are even worse - one in one million.

Talley’s involvement in this national campaign began in 1992 when he raised over $10,000 to determine the blood type of 200 individuals, with Villanova football student-athletes and his coaching staff serving as the foundation. As a result of his success, in 1993 he secured a $60,000 grant and organized the “Football United for Life” campaign, which attracted over 950 potential bone marrow donors. That group included a large number of student-athletes, primarily from the Villanova community, but also from many other Philadelphia-area college football programs. Among those programs participating were the football teams from the University of Pennsylvania, West Chester University, Widener University, Swarthmore College, Cheyney University, Ursinus College and Delaware Valley College.

Now in his seventh year of association with the bone marrow donor program, Talley continues his annual spring drive to get people tested and typed in to the national registry. In the spring of 1996, Talley’s program had its best effort ever as over 750 people were tested. Since 1992, Talley’s efforts have resulted in over 3,000 potential donors being successfully tested and entered into the registry.

Talley has also secured the commitment of the Villanova University Alumni Association, and the 50 United States Villanova Alumni chapters to test nationwide. Eventually, Talley hopes to involve other major college football programs around the country.

“Athletes have been truly given great gifts, and this is one small way to give back to someone in great need,” Talley said. “Because coaches and athletes are in the public eye, we want to raise awareness that bone marrow donors are needed. This is a great opportunity to give someone a second chance in life.”

For further information on how you can be a part of the National Bone Marrow Donor Program, contact the Villanova Football offices at 610-519-4105.

Talley By The Numbers...

Career Victories 129

Villanova Victories 101

Ranking among Villanova Coaches 1st

Hall of Fame Inductions 2

Ranking Among Current NCAA I-AA Active Coaches:

Career Victories 12th

Career Winning Percentage 22nd

Where Talley Goes...Success Follows

1979 St. Lawrence 3-6-0

1980 St. Lawrence 5-4-0

1981 St. Lawrence 5-4-0

1982 St. Lawrence 10-1-0

NCAA Division III semifinals; ICAC Conference Champions; ECAC Team of the Year; Lambert Trophy; AFCA Region I Coach of the Year; New York Sportswriters/ECAC Coach of the Year.

1983 St. Lawrence 5-3-1

ICAC Conference Champion.

Total Five Seasons 28-18-1 (.606)

1985 Villanova 5-0-0

1986 Villanova 8-1-0

1987 Villanova 6-4-0

1988 Villanova 5-5-1 4-4/T-3rd

1989 Villanova 8-4-0 6-2/T-1st

Yankee Co-Champions; NCAA Playoffs.

1990 Villanova 6-5-0 5-3/T-2nd

1991 Villanova 10-2-0 7-1/T-1st

Yankee Co-Champions; NCAA Playoffs; AFCA Region I Coach of the Year; New York Sportswriters/ECAC Coach of the Year.

1992 Villanova 9-3-0 6-2/2nd

NCAA Playoffs; Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy Champions.

1993 Villanova 3-8-0 1-7/6th*

1994 Villanova 5-6-0 2-6/5th*

1995 Villanova 3-8-0 2-6/5th*

Became Villanova’s All-Time Winningest Coach

1996 Villanova 8-4-0 6-2/T-2nd*

NCAA Playoffs, Recorded 100th career win.

1997 Villanova 12-1-0 8-0/A-10 champs

Ranked No. 1 for six weeks; Atlantic 10 Champions; ECAC Team of the Year; Undefeated regular season; Advanced to NCAA quarterfinals; Eddie Robinson Award winner; AFCA/GTE National Coach of the Year; Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year; Hula Bowl Coach

1998 Villanova 6-5-0 4-4/T-2nd

1999 Villanova 7-4-0 6-2/3rd

Recorded 100th win at Villanova

Total 14 Seasons 101-60-1 (.627)

CAREER 19 SEASONS 129-78-2 (.622)

* - In 1993, the Yankee Conference adopted two divisions, with Villanova in the Mid-Atlantic Division.

Talley’s Trophy Case

1999 Tallied his 100th win as Villanova’s head coach

1997 AFCA/GTE National Coach of the Year; Eddie Robinson Award winner, Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Assistant Coach Hula Bowl

1996 Recorded 100th career win.

1995 Became Villanova’s All-Time Winningest Coach.

1992 Lambert/Meadowlands Trophy I-AA

1991 Kodak/AFCA Region I Coach of the Year

1991 Metropolitan New York Sportswriters/ECAC Coach of the Year

1982 Lambert/Meadowlands Trophy Division III

1982 Kodak Coach of the Year

1982 Metropolitan New York Sportswriters/ECAC Coach of the Year

1982 New York Sportswriters Coach of the Year

6 AFCA All-American Football Players

36 First-team Conference selections, 1988-97

60 Conference All-Academic Team selections, 1988-97

26 All-ECAC Team selections, 1985-97

1 ECAC Award of Valor recipient, 1990

15 GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America selections, 1986-97

1 NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship recipient, 1988

1 National Player of the Year

“A Chip Off The Old Block”

See Where Some of Andy Talley’s Past Assistant Coaches Are Today

From St. Lawrence University:

Joe Kimball, Head Football Coach, Mercyhurst College

Bill Kuharich, Director of Pro Personnel, Kansas City Chiefs

Mark Whipple, Head Football Coach, University of Massachusetts

From Villanova University:

Curtis Bray, Assistant Coach, University of Pittsburgh

Dave Clawson, Head Football Coach, Fordham University Brendan Daly, Assistant Football Coach, Univ. of Maryland

John Donovan, Assistant Football Coach, Georgia Tech

Paul Ferraro, Assistant Football Coach, Georgia Tech

Dan Fidler, Assistant Football Coach, Boise State University Jim Fleming, Head Football Coach, Sacred Heart University

Marshall Hall, Assistant Football Coach, University of Delaware

Geoff Harlan, Head Football Coach, St. Anselm College

Brian Jones, Assistant Football Coach, University of Toledo

Dan MacNeill, Head Football Coach, Cortland State

Ron Mammano, Assistant Football Coach, Fordham University

Greg Olejack, Scout, Kansas City Chiefs

Bob Shoop, Assistant Football Coach, Boston College