Staff Directory
- Title:
- Director, Varsity Letter Club
- Email:
Sam Clancy is in his 14th year directing the University of Pittsburgh’s Varsity Letter Club (VLC). In this capacity, Clancy is responsible for athletics alumni relations, engagement and connecting “Forever Panthers” with current Pitt student-athletes.
However, Clancy’s Pitt association and impact date back well before his current administrative career.
Considered one of the greatest athletes the city of Pittsburgh has ever produced, Sam “Bam” Clancy was a four-year basketball starter for the Panthers 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) in a career.
Clancy was a three-time All-Eastern 8 selection, leading the Panthers to four winning seasons, the 1980 NIT and 1981 NCAA Tournament. He additionally played for legendary coach Bobby Knight as a member of the U.S. Gold Medal team at the 1979 Pan American Games.
His decorated basketball career earned him selection to the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame and Pitt’s All-Centennial Men’s Basketball Team (1905-2006). He additionally was named an Awardee of Distinction by the Pitt Varsity Letter Club.
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 in its lone season of existence. 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 the Oakland Raiders.
Clancy returned to the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 to complete a bachelor's degree in social sciences. He served as a football strength and conditioning assistant for three seasons before transitioning to the administrative side of collegiate athletics with the Pitt Varsity Letter Club.
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's legacy was honored on June 24, 2023, when the CIty of Pittsburgh declared it "Sam Clancy Day" and unveiled a street sign, "Sam Clancy Way," at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Roberts Street in the Hill District.
Beyond the Bio
Favorite place on University of Pittsburgh campus?
Cathedral of Learning, awesome structure and you can see the whole city from the top.
Favorite sport moment at Pitt?
I have a few favorite moments, 2017 Pitt vs Penn State FB game, 2017 football at Clemson, the Pitt vs WVU 13-9 football game at WVU knocking them out of the championship game and the 1979 Pitt Men’s Basketball team which I was a part of going into Cameron Arena and upsetting the number 3 team in the country Duke Blue Devils.
What’s my favorite thing to do in Pittsburgh?
Spend time with my family.
What do I love most about the University of Pittsburgh?
The people
What do I love most about working in Athletics?
The people who I work with is like family.
Favorite three people you wish you could sit down and have dinner with?
Jesus Christ just to say thank you
President Barrack, First African American President of the United States.
Wilt Chamberlain, deceased he was the great center in NBA history scoring 100 points in a single game.
Hobbies outside of work.
Golf which is still a work in progress
