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Pitt retires Sam Clancy’s No. 15 jersey
Five men’s basketball banners now hang from the rafters at Petersen Events Center, honoring a select few Pitt alums who have made their mark on the program over the years.
During halftime against Clemson on Saturday, the No. 15 jersey worn by Sam Clancy (1977-81), joined Don Hennon (1956-59), Billy Knight (1971-74), Charles Smith (1984-88) and Brandin Knight (1999-2003) as the only numbers Pitt has seen fit to retire.
Warm ovation for Sam Clancy as his #15 is retired by Pitt today. pic.twitter.com/6E4yz3wO81
— Justin Guerriero (@GuerrieroTrib) January 18, 2025
Nowadays, Clancy, 66, is Pitt’s Varsity Letter Club director, helping oversee alumni relations and engagement among current Panthers student-athletes.
In all of his seasons at Pitt, Clancy averaged a double-double, finishing with an average of 14.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.
He is the only player in program history to score 1,000 points (1,671) and accumulate 1,000 rebounds (1,342).
Clancy is Pitt’s all-time leader in rebounds, double-figure rebounding games (78) and double-doubles (170).
He ranks 16th in points scored and fourth with 170 career blocks.
During his time at Pitt, he helped the Panthers to the 1980 NIT and 1981 NCAA Tournament.
Beginning his high school career at Fifth Avenue before graduating from Brashear, Clancy won a gold medal with the U.S. at the 1979 Pan American Games under coach Bobby Knight.
After his college days, Clancy embarked on a two-sport professional career, having been selected in the 11th round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks (despite having not played football collegiately) and the 1981 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.
From 1982-93, he played in both the NFL and the USFL, including for the Pittsburgh Maulers in 1984.
Clancy also played a season of pro basketball for the Billings Volcanos of the Continental Basketball Association.
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.
The Pitt Panthers have announced that they will be retiring former basketball star Sam Clancy’s No. 15 jersey in a special ceremony this upcoming season.
Clancy, who played for Pitt from 1979-1982, was a dominant force on the court and etched his name into the program’s history books. He was a three-time All-American and still holds the record for most rebounds in a single season with 422.
His jersey retirement will honor his contributions to the Pitt basketball program and serve as a reminder of his impact on the team and the university as a whole. Fans are encouraged to come out and celebrate this momentous occasion and show their appreciation for one of the all-time greats in Pitt basketball history.
Stay tuned for more details on the ceremony and how you can be a part of this special event. #HailToPitt #SamClancy #JerseyRetirement
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