University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Sam Clancy Hopes to Inspire Others as He Enters Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame
9/9/2019 5:00:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball
As a young man in his early 20s, Sam Clancy was about to walk out of his Hill District home on a regular summer day to play basketball down the street. All of a sudden, the phone rang in the kitchen. Clancy picked up the phone without any clue Chuck Allen, player personnel director for the Seattle Seahawks, was on the other line.
"Are you still interested in trying out for the team," said Allen.
Clancy didn't have a plan for a future in sports. After all, he just got back from Billings, Montana, where he averaged 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in the Continental Basketball Association.
"Yes sir," Clancy replied.
The call didn't come as a complete surprise. While in Montana, in the dead of winter, two feet of snow on the ground and snowmobiles zooming by on the highways, Clancy looked out his hotel window and wondered 'how did I get here?'
That's when the first call came from Mr. Allen.
"He says 'Jackie Sherrill (former Pitt head football coach) gave us your name and said he thinks you can compete for a spot on this team'," said Clancy. "'Would you like to play in the NFL?'"
Clancy said yes. He was always open to trying new things and was never afraid of making a mistake.
It all began in the fourth grade when his physical education teacher taught him everything he knows about basketball.
"She taught me how to bounce the ball, shoot the ball, hold the ball and make a little pivot move," said Clancy. "It wasn't until I was 12 years old when the Ozanam Cultural Center came out with the first organized basketball."
In middle and high school, Clancy played at a higher level than expected. His summer league teams in middle school consistently beat their high school opponents. His peers at Fifth Avenue knew they had something special with Clancy on their team. The summer league success is what drew the attention of college scouts. One man made all the difference.
"It was eighth grade when Tim Grgurich started coming around," said Clancy. "When I got to know those guys they just make you feel like you're already a part of the family. Then by my senior year I didn't want to play for anybody else."
Clancy led Fifth Avenue and Brashear High School to top three national high school basketball rankings his junior and senior year. But, it was the feeling of comfort that convinced a young, nationally recruited Sam Clancy to choose Pitt over schools like Cincinnati, Ohio State and NC State. He wanted his parents to trust the coaching staff and come to every home game.
His decision to stay at home was impactful as Clancy is the only Pitt basketball player to score over 1,000 points and grab over 1,000 rebounds in his college career. One game in the winter of 1979 stands out to him during his four-year tenure as a Panther.
"We beat Duke my sophomore year when they were ranked third in the country at Cameron Indoor Stadium. They had four All-Americans. I had a super game, 23 points and 11 boards. We battled them and we were nobody," said Clancy.
"Our media relations guy at the time told me that he didn't want the game televised because he didn't want the University of Pittsburgh to get embarrassed. We went down there and we played our butt off. I ended up making the game-winning shot. The game was tied, they inbounded the ball and I stole it. I pulled up and tried to shoot a bank shot. Missed the shot, ran in, got the rebound and laid it up for the win."
1979 is a year Clancy will never forget. The summer of that year, he played in the Pan American Games under legendary coach Bobby Knight. His teammates included Kevin McHale, Ralph Sampson and Isiah Thomas. Clancy made the team doing what he did best.
"I was a hard worker, I could rebound and I would dive on the floor for loose balls. When I see Coach Knight we talk and holler," said Clancy. "Was he tough? Hell yeah. I respect him because Grgurich was hard on me too. That's the time we grew up in, coaches were tough. I respond to coaches that get after it. We beat every team by 30 or 40 points. It was a great opportunity. We played well together. Being able to be selected was a blessing."
His exceptional college basketball career at Pitt comes with an asterisk. With a coaching change after his junior year, Pitt football coach Jackie Sherrill encouraged Clancy to try out for the football team. Clancy admits he was vulnerable at the time, which led to his decision to play spring ball. A second-string defensive end lining up against two future NFL offensive lineman was a tall task in practice. Luckily, Clancy had some football experience.
"I played football in high school because our point guard and shooting guard went out for the team. I only played to look out for those guys, to protect them because that's how I was on the basketball court," said Clancy. "I was an enforcer. If you go after my guards then I go after you, and that reputation stuck in college. I only played for the recreation; never in a million years did I think I could play professionally."
Sherrill saw something special in Clancy. He was getting through on certain plays and impacting the line of scrimmage. When the new Pitt basketball coach, Roy Chipman, took over, he offered Clancy an ultimatum. Pick basketball or football. Clancy stuck with basketball because it was what he knew.
After his college career came to a close, Clancy was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1981 in the third round. Unfortunately, he didn't make the team, which led him to Billings, Montana.
So here we are. In Clancy's kitchen on April 28, 1982. The phone rings for a second time. It's
Chuck Allen again.
"Congratulations," said Allen.
"For what?" said Clancy.
"We just drafted you in the 11th round," said Allen.
Clancy wasn't so much surprised by the call itself. It was the idea that he would be playing professional sports again, but in the National Football League. It was the fact that Clancy didn't even know the NFL draft was that day.
He went on to have an 11-year NFL career as an impactful defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. He played in 152 games and had 30 sacks.
Today, Clancy lives in his hometown, working for the University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department as the Coordinator of the Varsity Letter Club. Anyone who knows him has had the privilege of hearing countless stories of his eventful and unpredictable career.
Being inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame is the culmination of Clancy's remarkable journey. And as he sat and reflected on it all, Clancy began to tear up.
"It means everything. It means that I accomplished what I wanted to do. Not just for me, it's for my children, my parents, every little kid on the Hill District that comes from a ghetto and still makes it," said Clancy.
"I always use the phrase 'it takes a village to raise a kid'. I get emotional talking about it because I had both of my parents at home but it was also the neighbors and community that gave me the support I needed. Everybody that came through my life growing up, they make sure you stay on the straight and arrow. I am so humbled by the experience that I had here at the University. And I am humbled to be chosen to be in the second Hall of Fame class. I'm so thankful for the committee that they thought enough of me to put me in because of my hard work then and person I've become now. I hope the kids in my community have someone to look up to."
2019 PITT HALL OF FAME
The 2019 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class was unveiled June 13, 2019 by Pitt's Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. The 12-member group is composed of All-Pros, All-Americans and legendary all-time greats.
The 2019 class will receive induction at the Pitt Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Petersen Events Center. On Saturday, Sept. 21, the inductees will be introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers host UCF. For Hall of Fame Dinner ticket information, contact Executive Director for Signature Events and Donor Experience Allison Rubin by phone (412-648-0345) or email (arubin@athletics.pitt.edu).
For more information of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame, visit pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame.
#H2P | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
"Are you still interested in trying out for the team," said Allen.
Clancy didn't have a plan for a future in sports. After all, he just got back from Billings, Montana, where he averaged 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in the Continental Basketball Association.
"Yes sir," Clancy replied.
The call didn't come as a complete surprise. While in Montana, in the dead of winter, two feet of snow on the ground and snowmobiles zooming by on the highways, Clancy looked out his hotel window and wondered 'how did I get here?'
That's when the first call came from Mr. Allen.
"He says 'Jackie Sherrill (former Pitt head football coach) gave us your name and said he thinks you can compete for a spot on this team'," said Clancy. "'Would you like to play in the NFL?'"
Clancy said yes. He was always open to trying new things and was never afraid of making a mistake.
It all began in the fourth grade when his physical education teacher taught him everything he knows about basketball.
"She taught me how to bounce the ball, shoot the ball, hold the ball and make a little pivot move," said Clancy. "It wasn't until I was 12 years old when the Ozanam Cultural Center came out with the first organized basketball."
In middle and high school, Clancy played at a higher level than expected. His summer league teams in middle school consistently beat their high school opponents. His peers at Fifth Avenue knew they had something special with Clancy on their team. The summer league success is what drew the attention of college scouts. One man made all the difference.
"It was eighth grade when Tim Grgurich started coming around," said Clancy. "When I got to know those guys they just make you feel like you're already a part of the family. Then by my senior year I didn't want to play for anybody else."
Clancy led Fifth Avenue and Brashear High School to top three national high school basketball rankings his junior and senior year. But, it was the feeling of comfort that convinced a young, nationally recruited Sam Clancy to choose Pitt over schools like Cincinnati, Ohio State and NC State. He wanted his parents to trust the coaching staff and come to every home game.
His decision to stay at home was impactful as Clancy is the only Pitt basketball player to score over 1,000 points and grab over 1,000 rebounds in his college career. One game in the winter of 1979 stands out to him during his four-year tenure as a Panther.
"We beat Duke my sophomore year when they were ranked third in the country at Cameron Indoor Stadium. They had four All-Americans. I had a super game, 23 points and 11 boards. We battled them and we were nobody," said Clancy.
"Our media relations guy at the time told me that he didn't want the game televised because he didn't want the University of Pittsburgh to get embarrassed. We went down there and we played our butt off. I ended up making the game-winning shot. The game was tied, they inbounded the ball and I stole it. I pulled up and tried to shoot a bank shot. Missed the shot, ran in, got the rebound and laid it up for the win."
1979 is a year Clancy will never forget. The summer of that year, he played in the Pan American Games under legendary coach Bobby Knight. His teammates included Kevin McHale, Ralph Sampson and Isiah Thomas. Clancy made the team doing what he did best.
"I was a hard worker, I could rebound and I would dive on the floor for loose balls. When I see Coach Knight we talk and holler," said Clancy. "Was he tough? Hell yeah. I respect him because Grgurich was hard on me too. That's the time we grew up in, coaches were tough. I respond to coaches that get after it. We beat every team by 30 or 40 points. It was a great opportunity. We played well together. Being able to be selected was a blessing."
His exceptional college basketball career at Pitt comes with an asterisk. With a coaching change after his junior year, Pitt football coach Jackie Sherrill encouraged Clancy to try out for the football team. Clancy admits he was vulnerable at the time, which led to his decision to play spring ball. A second-string defensive end lining up against two future NFL offensive lineman was a tall task in practice. Luckily, Clancy had some football experience.
"I played football in high school because our point guard and shooting guard went out for the team. I only played to look out for those guys, to protect them because that's how I was on the basketball court," said Clancy. "I was an enforcer. If you go after my guards then I go after you, and that reputation stuck in college. I only played for the recreation; never in a million years did I think I could play professionally."
Sherrill saw something special in Clancy. He was getting through on certain plays and impacting the line of scrimmage. When the new Pitt basketball coach, Roy Chipman, took over, he offered Clancy an ultimatum. Pick basketball or football. Clancy stuck with basketball because it was what he knew.
After his college career came to a close, Clancy was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1981 in the third round. Unfortunately, he didn't make the team, which led him to Billings, Montana.
So here we are. In Clancy's kitchen on April 28, 1982. The phone rings for a second time. It's
Chuck Allen again.
"Congratulations," said Allen.
"For what?" said Clancy.
"We just drafted you in the 11th round," said Allen.
Clancy wasn't so much surprised by the call itself. It was the idea that he would be playing professional sports again, but in the National Football League. It was the fact that Clancy didn't even know the NFL draft was that day.
He went on to have an 11-year NFL career as an impactful defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. He played in 152 games and had 30 sacks.
Today, Clancy lives in his hometown, working for the University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department as the Coordinator of the Varsity Letter Club. Anyone who knows him has had the privilege of hearing countless stories of his eventful and unpredictable career.
Being inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame is the culmination of Clancy's remarkable journey. And as he sat and reflected on it all, Clancy began to tear up.
"It means everything. It means that I accomplished what I wanted to do. Not just for me, it's for my children, my parents, every little kid on the Hill District that comes from a ghetto and still makes it," said Clancy.
"I always use the phrase 'it takes a village to raise a kid'. I get emotional talking about it because I had both of my parents at home but it was also the neighbors and community that gave me the support I needed. Everybody that came through my life growing up, they make sure you stay on the straight and arrow. I am so humbled by the experience that I had here at the University. And I am humbled to be chosen to be in the second Hall of Fame class. I'm so thankful for the committee that they thought enough of me to put me in because of my hard work then and person I've become now. I hope the kids in my community have someone to look up to."
2019 PITT HALL OF FAME
The 2019 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Class was unveiled June 13, 2019 by Pitt's Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. The 12-member group is composed of All-Pros, All-Americans and legendary all-time greats.
The 2019 class will receive induction at the Pitt Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Petersen Events Center. On Saturday, Sept. 21, the inductees will be introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers host UCF. For Hall of Fame Dinner ticket information, contact Executive Director for Signature Events and Donor Experience Allison Rubin by phone (412-648-0345) or email (arubin@athletics.pitt.edu).
For more information of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame, visit pittsburghpanthers.com/halloffame.
#H2P | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Pitt Hall of Fame | The moment Curtis Aiken learned he was a Pitt Athletics Hall of Famer!
Friday, March 06
Pitt Men's Basketball | UPJ Postgame | Omar Witherspoon, Jeff Capel & Nojus Indrusaitis
Tuesday, October 28
Pitt Football | Stanford Week | Coach Narduzzi Presser | 10.27.25
Monday, October 27
Bre Kelley Mic'd Up | Pitt LiveWire presented by UPMC
Wednesday, October 22