Feb. 13, 2008

Staten Island, NY - Dan Conley, defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Wagner College the past three years, has been named linebackers coach at his mater, Syracuse University, where he starred at linebacker in the mid 1990's.

Among Conley's accomplishments during his tenure at Wagner was helping to develop placekicker/punter Piotr Czech and defensive end Robert Brown into All-Americans this past season.

"We are certainly going to miss Dan and we thank him for his many contributions to Wagner football," said Seahawk head coach Walt Hameline. "Invariably in this business, when you have good people on your staff, they become attractive to other institutions. I am happy for Dan and his family and that he has the opportunity to return to a place that is so special to him and where he enjoyed so much success as a student-athlete."

A 1995 graduate of Syracuse, Conley has coached at the collegiate level for 12 seasons, including the past three at Wagner College. Conley has experience coaching every defensive position. Last season he mentored the Wagner defensive line and coordinated the special teams, after coaching the linebackers in his first season and the defensive backs in 2006. In 2005, Conley coached the Wagner linebackers, including All-NEC selection Craig Romano, and directed the special teams group that ranked 13th nationally in Division I-AA in net punting.

"I want to thank Coach Hameline for his direction and support and for the opportunity he provided my family and I here at Wagner College for the last three years," Conley said. I built great relationships with the men I've worked with and look forward to continuing those friendships. I wish the staff and the team the best of luck in the future."

Conley, who began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the Orange in 1997, has twice been a defensive coordinator, including at Iona College in 2004 and at Canisius College from 2000 through 2002. In 2003, Conley was the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at West Virginia Tech. In 1999, Conley coached the linebackers and coordinated the special teams at Southern Connecticut State University.

As a collegiate standout for the Orange, Conley was a two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection and was a candidate for the Butkus Award as a junior and senior. In 1994, Conley played a sixth season for the Orange after the NCAA granted a waiver due to injury and was named ESPN's "Comeback Player of the Year." As a senior, Conley captained the Orange and was also selected as the captain of the 1995 Hula Bowl's North squad. In 1999, Conley was selected to Syracuse's All-Century Team, which honored the 44 best Orange players from the 20th century. A 1995 graduate, Conley earned his bachelor's degree in environmental design.

Conley and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Zakary and Thomas John "TJ".