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Now entering his third season at the helm of the Stonehill football program, Robert Talley already sits in a tie for third on the school's coaching win list after guiding the Skyhawks to its best two-year stretch in more than a decade.
Under his tutelage in 2008, Stonehill averaged 22.7 points per game - the most since the 2002 season - and finished seventh in all of Division II in turnover margin (+16).
Momentous wins bookended the schedule with the Skyhawks securing the program's first-ever win over a Division I-AA team - a 14-13 decision over Wagner in front of a packed stadium to open the season. Then, with the Class of 2009 playing their final game, Talley guided his charges to a convincing 35-7 win over archrival Bentley. That victory snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Falcons and also saw the Skyhawks set a school-record with seven interceptions.
In just two seasons, Talley has already produced eight
all-conference honorees, including a school-record six in 2008.
In his first season at the helm, the Skyhawks won as many games as they had in the previous two seasons and made drastic improvements in all facets of the game.
Stonehill opened the season with three straight wins for the first time since 1995, defeated former Northeast-10 Conference foe C.W. Post for the first time in 11 tries and had the first shutout in nearly 60 games.
Talley's biggest impact came on the defensive side of the ball, where the Skyhawks produced two All-Conference performers and finished third in the nation in turnover margin (+16). Ball security played a major factor for Stonehill, as Talley's charges committed only 12 turnovers and national low of only four fumbles. His ball-hawking secondary helped the Skyhawks finish second in the Conference in interceptions, amassing 16 picks.
Talley, who has over 16 years of collegiate coaching experience, was introduced as Stonehill College's sixth varsity head football coach on February 27, 2007.
Prior to his arrival in Easton, Talley held the positions of Special Assistant to San Francisco 49er head coach Mike Nolan and Assistant Offensive Line Coach, where he helped mentor a line that paved the way for a record-setting season from second-year running back, Frank Gore.
The team as a whole finished sixth in the NFL in rushing yards per
game (135.8), highlighted by Gore's 1,695 yards, third most in
League.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Talley served as a team liaison and oversaw the offensive playbook and game book preparation.
Prior to his appointment with the 49ers, Talley spent eight years on the staff at Dartmouth College, rising from Defensive Secondary Coach in his first three years on the Big Green staff to Defensive Coordinator in his final five campaigns. During his time in Hanover, he developed All-Ivy defensive backs Clayton Smith and Steve Jensen, who was the 2001 Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
During the 1996 season, Talley was the Linebackers Coach at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
From 1991-1996, Talley was a member of the University of Massachusetts staff, first as assistant defensive backfield coach (1991-1992), then as defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator (1992-96). In 1992 the Minutemen went 7-3 and followed that season up with a 9-2 ledger, good for second in the Yankee Conference.
While at Dartmouth, Talley spent his summers participating in the
National Football League's Minority Coaching Fellowship Program,
which provides training camp positions to minority coaches.
Talley is only one of two African-American head coaches in Division II football.
He spent five summers learning from some of the greatest football minds in the game, including the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants, Dick Jauron, formerly of the Chicago Bears and Dennis Green, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings. At each stop he worked exclusively with the defensive line, except for his time with the Bears, where he worked with the defensive backs.
A 1991 graduate of Boston University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Talley served as co-captain during his senior season in 1990 and is the school's career leader in tackles. A two-time All-America defensive back for the Terriers, he earned all-Yankee Conference honors during each of his final three seasons of play.
Prior to his collegiate career, Talley starred at Curtis High School on Staten Island, earning letters in football, baseball and track.
The 40-year old Talley and his wife
Sarah and their son Jackson, reside in Easton.
