From 2009 to 2017, Conley was assistant athletic director for football operations and on-campus recruiting coordinator at University of North Texas, working under three head coaches, Todd Dodge, Dan McCarney, and Seth Littrell.
During his five-year tenure with the Longhorns, the team won the Southwest Conference championship in 1983, and Conley's linebackers featured two All-Americans and five NFL Draft picks.
Following three seasons as an assistant at Howard Payne University, Conley got his first head coaching position at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas in 1996.
Conley left Trinity Valley in 2000 for the United States Naval Academy, where he coached the special teams for two years before moving into private business.
Conley brought Valdosta State transfer quarterback Buster Faulkner to Commerce and he led the Lone Star Conference in passing.