| Ernest Alley | |
| Birth Date: | 4 June 1904 |
| Death Place: | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Player Sport1: | Football |
| Player Years2: | 1927–1928 |
| Player Team2: | Tennessee |
| Player Positions: | End |
| Coach Sport1: | Football |
| Coach Years2: | 1939 |
| Coach Team2: | Middle Tennessee State Teachers |
| Coach Years3: | 1940 |
| Coach Team3: | Vanderbilt (ends) |
| Coach Years4: | 1943 |
| Coach Team4: | Vanderbilt |
| Coach Years5: | 1944–1945 |
| Coach Team5: | Auburn (assistant) |
| Coach Sport6: | Track |
| Coach Years7: | 1949–1971 |
| Coach Team7: | Vanderbilt |
| Overall Record: | 6–6–1 (football) |
Ernest Hayes "Herc" Alley (June 4, 1904 – August 24, 1971)[1] was an American college football player, track athlete, and coach. He served as head men's track coach at Vanderbilt University from 1949 to 1971.[2] [3] Alley was also the head football coach at Middle Tennessee State Teachers College—now known as Middle Tennessee State University—in 1939 and at Vanderbilt in 1943, compiling a career college football record of 6–6–1.[4]
A native of Tracy City, Tennessee, Alley played football as an end at the University of Tennessee from 1927 to 1928.[5] He died of a heart attack, on August 24, 1971, at his home in Nashville, Tennessee.[6] [7]