Clancy pursuing college basketball dream at Southern Illinois

John Clancy wore uniform No. 11 at Buffalo Grove because he loved how Bobby Hurley played point guard for Duke.

Clancy played with that same energy and passion en route to becoming an all-area pick and leading BG to a Mid-Suburban East title in 2003. But the dream of becoming the next Hurley ultimately collided with the reality that playing Division I basketball was not in the cards for Clancy.

Now, more than a decade later, Clancy is getting the chance to experience Division I basketball from a different perspective. The former Wheeling head coach is in his first year as a graduate assistant coach for Southern Illinois' resurgent program in Carbondale.

"It's been cool to have family and friends who are so supportive and believe in me," Clancy said. "This is an unbelievable opportunity and chance to do something I've always wanted to do. It seems like the right time and the right place and I'm blessed to have an opportunity I don't take for granted."

Clancy spent two years as Wheeling's head coach and also worked as an assistant at St. Viator, Elk Grove and Niles North. He said he had a couple of opportunities in the past to make the college jump but the timing was not right.

Last spring Clancy thought he was going to Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee to become an assistant coach, but that plan fell through after a head coaching change.

Shortly after that, Barrington sophomore coach and former Viator assistant Joe Molloy got one of his friends, veteran college assistant Brad Autry, in touch with Clancy. Autry was hired at SIU in June and in early August he told Clancy there was an opportunity to join Barry Hinson's staff.

"(Autry) said it wasn't the most glamorous spot, but I met with Hinson and loved what he's about," Clancy said. "He said, 'We're going to use you and we need to win.'

"It felt like the right fit, but it was a huge risk and huge gamble. Who knows how it's going to work out?"

Especially since Clancy would be heading about five hours south to an unfamiliar area for a low-paying job with very little security. But since he is single he didn't have to worry about uprooting a wife and kids.

"Molloy said, 'I know your passion and interest in basketball and you're just like Brad Autry. You are made for this,'" said Clancy, who is living with Autry in Carbondale. "I'm blessed to have an unbelievable family and friends who are supportive of me chasing this dream.

"It's nice to have so many people in your corner who believe in you and your dream. Every day I wake up knowing I made the right decision."

Clancy has a wide range of responsibilities as a graduate assistant. He helps analyze film, prepare scouting reports, evaluate potential recruits and work on the team's travel plans.

He also gets to be on the bench with Hinson, the dean of Missouri Valley Conference head coaches who also did a four-year stint as an assistant to Bill Self at Kansas.

"It's been a great tutorial in all aspects that go into this and I love it," Clancy said. "I didn't really know what my role was going to be. What's been awesome is I think coach Hinson values my opinion, and the energy and enthusiasm I bring, and values me as a basketball mind. He's given me more responsibility than I thought I would have."

Adding to the excitement is the turnaround by the Salukis, who are 18-6 despite losing their third straight game Wednesday night at nationally-ranked MVC power Wichita State. They were picked to finish ninth in the 10-team league after three straight losing seasons under Hinson and they have not finished above .500 since 2007-08.

"What I love about it here is it's nice to be somewhere where people care so much about basketball," Clancy said. "It's fun to be in an environment where basketball is so important. It makes you want to work harder and makes you know all those hours you've put in are worth it.

"SIU can be a special place and I firmly believe it can be like it was in the mid-2000s with guys like Tony Young (Schaumburg) and Bryan Mullins (Downers Grove South). I absolutely love it down here."

Clancy said he could be in the same role next year at SIU, but he understands the nature of Division I college basketball requires keeping your options open. But working for coaches such as Hinson and Autry will help open doors.

Clancy has also sought advice from former Viator player, assistant and head coach Mike Howland, who is in his first year as Director of Basketball Operations at Winthrop after spending a year in the same position at Missouri State. When they were on the staff together at St. Viator they would talk about the possibility of coaching at the Division I level.

"What's pretty neat about this is the Division I level is special," Clancy said. "As a player I wanted to be a Division I player but I wasn't good enough.

"It's pretty exciting to talk about the Division I level and the opportunity to possibly get to the NCAA tournament. Now that I've had a taste of this, this is where I want to be."

marty.maciaszek@gmail.com