From the Vault: Sam Clancy
Considered one of the greatest athletes the City of Pittsburgh has ever produced, Sam "Bam" Clancy will have his jersey retired on Jan. 18, 2025, during the Pitt men's basketball game against Clemson. Learn more about one of the greatest athletes in Western Pennsylvania history.
A proud native of Pittsburgh's historic Hill District, Clancy starred at old Fifth Avenue High School, leading the basketball team to a state championship as a junior in 1976. Following Fifth Avenue's closure, he went to Brashear High School and was a member of its first graduating class in 1977.
Clancy was a four-year starter at Pitt from 1977-81, averaging 14.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. He is the only Pitt player to score more than 1,000 points (1,671) and grab over 1,000 rebounds (1,362) during his career. Clancy was a three-time Eastern 8 All-League selection. He led Pitt to four winning seasons, the 1981 Eastern 8 Tournament championship, an NIT berth in 1980 and an NCAA bid in 1981.
Clancy was drafted by two different professional sports leagues: the NBA's Phoenix Suns (1981) and the NFL's Seattle Seahawks (1982), the latter occurring even though he never played collegiate football. Clancy played one season of professional basketball in the Continental Basketball Association (averaging 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Billings Volcanos) before playing 12 seasons of professional football.
He was a member of the Seahawks and then returned to Pittsburgh to play for the Maulers of the upstart United States Football League, earning the franchise's MVP award. Clancy later played for the USFL's Memphis Showboats before returning to the NFL as an impact defensive end for the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts.
Clancy played for some of the Browns' greatest teams (coached by another Pitt product, the late Marty Schottenheimer), helping the franchise to four playoff berths, three AFC Central Division titles and two AFC Championship Games.
He concluded his 10-season NFL career with 227 tackles, 30 sacks and seven fumble recoveries.
Following his playing days, Clancy coached in NFL Europe, serving as the defensive line coach for the Barcelona Dragons and winning the 1997 World Bowl. He would later serve on the defensive staffs of the New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders.
In 2019 Clancy was inducted into the Pitt Hall of Fame in the second ever class of Inductees.
On Saturday, June 24, 2023, declared "Sam Clancy Day" by the Pittsburgh City Council, a street sign was unveiled in Clancy's honor at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Roberts Street in Pittsburgh's historic Hill District. A ceremony was held featuring an array of distinguished speakers, including Mayor Edward Gainey, Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle and Eugene Khorey, the first principal of Brashear High School, Clancy's alma mater.
Clancy was surprised with an on-field announcement during Pitt's football game against Cal on Pittsburgh Day that he will have his No. 15 basketball jersey lifted into the Petersen Events Center rafters Jan. 18, 2025.
A special surprise for Sam Bam Clancy. ???? pic.twitter.com/ZigGJxjaXj
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) October 12, 2024