Villanova seeks to extend Talley's career

(STATS) - Retiring Villanova coach Andy Talley is pleased to know his legacy has as much to do with his work off the field as it does on it.

Talley is a driving force with the "Be The Match" national bone marrow registry drive and his foundation has partnered with over 50 other schools to register more than 61,000 potential donors, leading to over 260 transplants since 2008.

The 73-year-old will continue to champion the cause in coaching retirement, but Talley also wants to keep this 32nd and final season at Villanova going beyond Saturday's CAA Football game at Delaware - the 50th renewal of the rivalry.

A win would lift Villanova to 8-3 and surely clinch a 12th FCS playoff appearance for Talley. A loss would be the Wildcats' second straight and third in five games and, at 7-4, could keep them from gaining an at-large bid.

The Wildcats face a Delaware squad that is 4-6 and finishing a second straight losing season, but the Blue Hens are 2-2 and playing better since coach Dave Brock was fired on Oct. 16 and co-defensive coordinator Dennis Dobbin-Carter took over on an interim basis.

"We just have to move on quickly because Delaware is waiting and it's an incredibly important game," Talley said.

"They played hard for Dave and they're playing hard for Dennis as well. I think the Delaware kids are football kids, they come to play. I'm impressed with them, they're giving everybody a run. I feel like right now they're as good as just about anyone we've played. Especially in the situation that we're in where we have to win this game to be a playoff team."

Talley is 228-136-1 (.626) at Villanova, including a CAA-record 142 wins in conference games. His biggest win, though, was a 23-21 victory over Montana in the 2009 FCS championship game.

Including his five seasons at Division III St. Lawrence, he is 256-154-2 (.624) overall.

Longtime Villanova assistant Mark Ferrante, who has been with Talley for three decades, will become the Wildcats' head coach following the 2016 season. Talley will stay at the suburban Philadelphia university through 2017 in an administrative role, serving as special assistant to athletic director Mark Jackson.