David Corley was hired by Penn State in January of 2018 to coach Running Backs but when Ja’Juan Seider was hired later that same month he made a switch.  Now, Corley will be tasked with leading one of the most talented units on the team, the wide receivers. This group which features a solid group of returning veterans, such as DeAndre Thompkins, Juwan Johnson, and Brandon Polk,  coupled with an incoming class of potential phenoms in 5 Star Justin Shorter and 4 Star Jahan Dotson.

Corely was recently asked what it is like to come into a new team and what it takes to build relationships with players.

“Building relationships is going to take some time. But we have had a meeting, we have worked out, through winter conditioning and the guys seem great.” – David Corley

You can hear the rest of the answer below. As well as read a transcript of the interview below.

Question and Answer with David Corley

What is your impression of the three wideouts in this year’s recruiting class and what have your interactions with them been like to date?

Corley: They’re a phenomenal group of players. Their film is excellent. I have talked with all of these guys and have actually met all of them and their families. So I’m really looking forward to bringing them into the fold and working with those guys next season. They’re all, as I said, exceptional players, Justin, Jahan and Daniel.

What was your communication like with James Franklin between the time you first met him and your recent interview?

Corley: Just from time to time. I might see him at a convention here or there, we might text message each other or maybe hit up on Twitter, those types of things. Obviously guys, they’re in season so it was more along those lines.

How have you begun to build relationships with the current receivers on the team?

Corley: Building relationships is going to take some time, but we’ve had a meeting. We’ve worked out in winter conditioning, and the guys seem great. I’ve heard, coming in, nothing but great things about their work ethic and their personalities. So when we met, I just told them a little bit about myself and some of the things I’m looking for from them, what can they expect from me. And I thought that our first day was awesome. Those guys really got out there and really worked hard, so I’m looking forward to building relationships with them as we go along.

What did you learn from coaching receivers at Army, a place where they hardly catch the ball playing in a triple-option offense?

Corley: You have to find different ways to motivate your guys and help players understand that football is not just 7-on-7. There’s more to football than just throwing the ball around. A lot of times receivers, they’ve got to understand that the majority of their grade from a game is going to come from them blocking. So whether you’re in an offense that throws the ball more or an offense like West Point has, triple-option where you run the ball more, even if you just play 50 plays, all those plays aren’t going to be passes to you. The majority of those plays either they’re running the ball or throwing the ball to somebody else and you’ve got to find a way to get that ball into space, which means you’ve got to help out and block.

Get to Know David Corley

Corley played College Football for Atlantic 10 Conference team William and Mary where he was a four-year starter.  During his time there he broke the program’s career records for passing yards (9,805), total offense (10,948) and touchdown passes (73).

He would enjoy short stints in the Canadian Football league playing for the Calgary Stampeders and in the Arena Football League suiting up for the New York Dragons.

Corley began his coaching career at C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy where he coached quarterbacks for one season.

From 2008 through 2013 he would return to William and Mary as the running backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers coach. During this time he coached and helpt current NFL Free Agent Jonathan Grimes to become one of the most decorated players in CAA history.

In his two seasons (2008-09) as the running backs coach at W&M, Corley mentored Jonathan Grimes, who broke freshman records for both rushing and all-purpose yards and eventually jumped into the program’s top-10 in career rushing and rushing touchdowns as a sophomore. He graduated as the most decorated player in Colonial Athletic Association history with 11 all-conference honors in his career.

David’s coaching success is not just limited to the running back position. In 2015, while coaching wide receivers at Connecticut, Corley helped to double the production of receiver Noel Thomas. Though Thomas went undrafted in the NFL he later found a home in the NFL and is now a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions.

Corley moved onto coach wide receivers at Arms where helped coach the Black Knights to a second-straight bowl win.