Tony Papley, who completed his playing career at Slippery Rock in 2013, enters his sixth season on the Duquesne coaching staff.
After two seasons as a graduate assistant defensive line coach, he was promoted to director of football operations in 2016 while maintaining his defensive line coach status. He also coordinates video operations for the program.
Papley has coached five All-Northeast Conference (NEC) lineman in Zach Zidian (2014 & 2015), Jake Radziukinas (2016), Andy Struttmann (2017) in addition to Jalen Booker and Kam Carter during the historic 2018 season which saw the Dukes win their fifth NEC title, earn their second berth in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs before capturing their first-ever FCS Playoff victory with a 31-10 victory at No. 16 Towson in the first round of the postseason.
His linemen helped the Dukes rank second in the NEC in scoring defense (23.8 ppg.) and rushing defense (141.5ypg.) in 2017 after sitting 28th (2015) and 10th (2016) nationally in total defense over the last three seasons.
A three-year letterman at nose tackle for SRU, Papley earned first team All-PSAC West honors as a senior in helping the Rock defense rank fourth nationally in pass defense efficiency, fifth in third-down conversion and 25th in rushing defense.
The Slippery Rock, Pa. native was part of two Western Division championship teams as a player. Papley received his undergraduate degree in parks and resource management from Slippery Rock in 2013 and his Masters in Sports Leadership from Duquesne in 2016.
He and his wife Mara reside in Zelienople, Pa.
