PITTSBURGH – Pitt Athletics announced Saturday afternoon that Pittsburgh legend Sam Clancy will have his No. 15 basketball jersey lifted into the Petersen Events Center rafters Jan. 18, 2025. Clancy was surprised with an on-field announcement between the first and second quarter of Pitt’s football game against Cal on Pittsburgh Day at Acrisure Stadium.
“We are extremely excited to announce the retirement Sam Clancy’s jersey,” said interim Director of Athletics Jennifer Tuscano. “Sam had a tremendous playing career at Pitt and is well deserving of having his jersey hanging in the rafters next to the likes of Don Hennon, Billy Knight, Charles Smith, and Brandin Knight.”
Clancy’s jersey will be retired at halftime of the Pitt-Clemson game at the Petersen Events Center Saturday, Jan. 18. Fans can purchase season tickets or mini-plans HERE or through the Panthers Ticket Office at (800) 643-7488 or email [email protected].
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.
Pitt sophomore guard Jaland Lowe will continue to wear the No. 15 jersey throughout his career with the Panthers with the blessing of Clancy.
