Celebrated Pittsburgh Athlete Sam Clancy Honored

PITTSBURGH, PA — One of the city's most celebrated athletes of all time is being honored this week. Pittsburgh City Council has declared June 24 as "Sam Clancy Day."

Also on Saturday, a street sign will be unveiled in Clancy's honor at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Roberts Street in the Hill District. The 11:30 a.m. ceremony that will include live musical performances and food trucks,will feature several speakers - including Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

Clancy initially starred at the former Fifth Avenue High School, Uptown, leading the basketball team to a state championship as a junior in 1976. Following Fifth Avenue's closure, he went to newly opened Brashear High and was a member of its first graduating class in 1977.

Clancy was a four-year basketball starter at the University of Pittsburgh 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.

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 12 seasons of professional football. He began with the Seahawks, then returned to Pittsburgh to play for the Maulers of the United States Football League. He also played for the USFL's Memphis Showboats before returning to the NFL as a defensive end for the

Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts.

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. Now in his 14th year directing the club, he is responsible for athletics alumni relations, engagement and connecting "Forever Panthers" with current Pitt student-athletes.