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.
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.
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.