Skip Stahley played his high school football in Lebanon, PA. and then had an outstanding career at Penn St., lettering in football, basketball and Lacrosse. He represented the Lions in the East-West Shrine game and was captain of the basketball team.
His first coaching began at Western Maryland College as the asst. in football, Head basketball and Lacrosse coach and asst. Dean of Men. After receiving his Masters from Columbia he started a most spectacular career in the coaching ranks. The list of coaching positions reads like a Hall of Fame Manual; Head Football and Track at Delaware University; assist. football, Head Lacrosse, Freshman basketball coach at Harvard; Head Football Coach, Head Track Coach at Brown University; U.S.Navy 1943-45, Head Football Coach USN at San Diego; Head Football Coach George Washington University; Head Football Coach, Toledo University; Defensive Coordinator, University of Washington; Defensive Coordinator, NFL Chicago Cardinals; Head Football Coach, University of Idaho, and Athletic Director; Athletic Director, Portland St. University.
Stahley served on many NCAA national committees, including the football rules committee. Stahley's honors include; Hall of Fame honors from National Association Collegiate Athletic Directors, State of Pennsylvania, and Central Pennsylvania. He has been awarded Emeritus Professor status at Portland St, and holds United States Patents on the Football Kicking Tee and Football Defensive Reactor.
Stahley's tenure at Idaho will be remembered for the highly competitive players he produced, including Idaho Hall of Famers; Jim Norton, Jerry Kramer, Wayne Walker, and Reg Carolan. Stahley left a high mark in college athletics, as he is known as the "Father" of the Big Sky Conference. He originated the concept and was mainly responsible for the formation of the conference when he was the Athletic Director at Idaho. He also organized the first "Century Club" for athletic scholarships at Portland St.
At Idaho, Skip was always undermanned in scholarships, however his great coaching talent produced exciting teams.well-drilled in techniques, producing student-athletes ready to face the world. Stahley's former players revere him as a magnificent coach and leader of men. Stahley and his wife,Shirley, reside in Beaverton Oregon.