Career
He was a native of South Bend, Indiana, who played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In his four years as a football player at Notre Dame, the Irish lost only five games. Filley was twice selected capatin of the Notre Dame football team, including the 1943 national championship team
He was a consensus All-American at the guard position in 1943.
After World World War II, Filley served for 29 years as a coach and administrator at Cornell University from 1945–1984, He was first hired as the freshman team football coach. In 1955, he became an administrator, having responsibility over the years as assistant to the athletic director, ticket manager, athletic business manager, associate director of athletics in charge of operations, and associate athletic director in charge of scheduling.
He was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.