Sam Clancy

Sam Clancy is one NFL Europe's great assistant coaches. During his tenure as DL coach he has coached the likes of Keith Traylor, Carl Reeves, La'Roi Glover, Josh Taves and Devin Wyman into big seasons at Barcelona. Traylor and Glover, in particular have benefited from his coaching skills, resurrecting their careers with the Dragons and then going onto greater success in the NFL. They both enjoyed stellar seasons, playing at a Pro Bowl level in Denver and New Orleans respectively.

Sam enjoyed a stellar NFL career at defensive end, but he actually drafted by an NBA team (Phoenix Suns) when he left Pittsburgh, where he played basketball and not football. The Suns cut him before he could play in the NBA, and he wound up playing for the Billings Volcanoes of the CBA in their 1981-82 season helping them into the playoffs (averaging 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game).

In the 1982 draft Seattle took him in the 11^th round but he spent the whole year on injured reserve after injuring a knee in pre-season. After the 1983 season, he left for the USFL and his hometown Pittsburgh Maulers. Despite a career best 16 sacks from Sam, and the presence of Heisman Trophy winning RB Mike Rozier, the Maulers suffered through a disastrous 3-15 season and folded after the season. In the subsequent dispersal draft, he was picked the by the Memphis Showboats and played on a defensive line that included a certain Reggie White.

After the USFL folded in 1985, Sam's rights went back to Seattle, but they quickly traded him to Cleveland for a 7^th round pick. Sam would play the next 4 years for the Browns as an occasional starter during the height of Bernie-mania. In the 1986 playoffs against the Jets he made a key sack of Ken O'Brien in overtime that forced the Jets to punt and give the ball back to the Browns who marched to the winning field. The Browns played the Broncos the following week for the AFC Championship Game in what would become a classic. Late in the game with Cleveland leading 20-13, Sam was on the field as John Elway led the drive and Denver to a come from behind win denying the Browns their first Super Bowl berth. Sam still calls that the most memorable game to this day.

More heartbreak would follow in 1987, with another AFC Championship loss to Denver, and that would be as close as Sam got to the Super Bowl. After the 1988 season, Sam signed as a Plan B free agent for the Indianapolis Colts and became a full-time starter. In 1990 he posted a NFL career high 7.5 sacks to lead the Colts. He played 5 seasons for the Colts before retiring after the 1993 season.

Sam joined the re-vamped World League in 1995 and has been an integral part of Jack Bicknell's coaching staff ever since. He has also been a major participant in the NFL''s Minority Coaching Programs, and hopes to catch on with an NFL Team someday. His credentials speak for themselves. You deserve it Sam!

• World Bowl 97 Weekend - Preston goes up to Sam, and says "Good to meet you Bruce Clark, you were a hell of a defensive lineman for the Saints!" Sam replies "Thanks man, but I ain't Bruce Clark - I'm Sam Clancy". Preston in dire trouble pulls the stat of the night of the hat, by telling Sam - "You played in the NBA". Sam, amazed that anybody could be that sad for knowing that, forgives him! (Sam never did play in the NBA but it was close).
• World Bowl 97 Weekend - Kenny 'Stats' shakes Sam's hand and says "You sacked John Elway!" Sam laughs!
• World Bowl 97 - Sam finally gets a championship ring! And before John Elway too!
• Week 6 Galaxy at Dragons (Triple Cheddar Header Game III) - Sam impressed by the Cheddarheads feat, proceeds to wear Shuggie's cheddar around the Sitges Sports Bar for what seems like all evening, while introducing us to his Fearsome Foursome.

Sam's the man!

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