Clancy Pendergast
Encyclopedia
Clancy Pendergast is the current defensive coordinator for the University of California Golden Bears
and the former defensive coordinator
for the Kansas City Chiefs
. He is also the former defensive coordinator
for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals
, a position he had held from the 2004 to 2008 seasons.
, University of Oklahoma
, and University of Alabama at Birmingham
before joining the Houston Oilers in 1995.
After a year with the Oilers, he joined the Dallas Cowboys
, where he spent seven seasons, first as defensive assistant/quality control/linebackers coach (1996–99), and later handing responsibilities in nickel defense packages (2000) and the secondary (2001–02). Pendergast helped develop first-round draft pick Roy Williams
into a Pro Bowl
safety. In 2003, he was linebackers coach with the Cleveland Browns
.
to the point that when Green's father, Dennis Green
, became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals
, Jeremy convinced him to interview Pendergast for the job. Green was so impressed that he hired Pendergast as the Cardinal's Defensive Coordinator.
After Dennis Green's firing, he was retained as defensive coordinator under new Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt
. Clancy helped lead the Cardinals into Super Bowl XLIII, but was fired on Friday February 6, 2009, less than one week after Arizona lost to Pittsburgh 27-23 in the Super Bowl.
. Clancy Pendergast officially became the defensive coordinator
for the Chiefs on March 13, 2009, where he reunited with Head Coach Todd Haley
, who was offensive coordinator at Arizona during Pendergast's time there. On January 14, 2010, the Chiefs named former Cleveland Browns
head coach Romeo Crennel
their new defensive coordinator
. According to NFL.com Pendergast was not retained for the 2010 season by the Chiefs in any coaching position. Pendergast was hired to become the Oakland Raiders defensive backs coach on February 6, 2010.
, succeeding Bob Gregory.
, where his sister Bonnie Pendergast continues to teach math. He graduated from the University of Arizona
in 1990.
Pendergast was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta
(Fiji) Fraternity during his years as an undergraduate at the University of Arizona.
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
and the former defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. He is also the former defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, a position he had held from the 2004 to 2008 seasons.
Early Coaching career
He was a graduate assistant or assistant coach at Mississippi State, University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, and University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
before joining the Houston Oilers in 1995.
After a year with the Oilers, he joined the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, where he spent seven seasons, first as defensive assistant/quality control/linebackers coach (1996–99), and later handing responsibilities in nickel defense packages (2000) and the secondary (2001–02). Pendergast helped develop first-round draft pick Roy Williams
Roy Williams (safety)
Roy Lee Williams is a retired American football safety. He played college football at Oklahoma before he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys eighth overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons with the Cowboys and earned five straight Pro Bowl selections from 2003–2007...
into a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
safety. In 2003, he was linebackers coach with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Arizona Cardinals
While working in Cleveland, Pendergast impressed personnel man Jeremy GreenJeremy Green
Jeremy Green is a former sports columnist and NFL studio analyst who most recently worked for ESPN, where among other things he hosted the daily American football podcast "Football Today"...
to the point that when Green's father, Dennis Green
Dennis Green
Dennis "Denny" Green is an American football head coach for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League...
, became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Jeremy convinced him to interview Pendergast for the job. Green was so impressed that he hired Pendergast as the Cardinal's Defensive Coordinator.
After Dennis Green's firing, he was retained as defensive coordinator under new Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt
Ken Whisenhunt
Kenneth "Ken" Moore Whisenhunt is the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, leading them to the first Super Bowl in franchise history during the 2008 season...
. Clancy helped lead the Cardinals into Super Bowl XLIII, but was fired on Friday February 6, 2009, less than one week after Arizona lost to Pittsburgh 27-23 in the Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs
When Cardinals fired Pendergast, he was immediately linked with a move to Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. Clancy Pendergast officially became the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Chiefs on March 13, 2009, where he reunited with Head Coach Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
, who was offensive coordinator at Arizona during Pendergast's time there. On January 14, 2010, the Chiefs named former Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
head coach Romeo Crennel
Romeo Crennel
Romeo Crennel is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and current defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. Before becoming the head coach of the Browns, Crennel won three Super Bowls in four seasons as the defensive coordinator of the New England...
their new defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. According to NFL.com Pendergast was not retained for the 2010 season by the Chiefs in any coaching position. Pendergast was hired to become the Oakland Raiders defensive backs coach on February 6, 2010.
California Golden Bears
On February 19, 2010 Pendergast was hired as Defensive Coordinator for the California Golden BearsCalifornia Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
, succeeding Bob Gregory.
Personal life
Pendergast attended Tolleson High SchoolTolleson Union High School
Tolleson Union High School is a four-year high school located in Tolleson, Arizona. It was established in 1927, and is the only high school in the town. Tolleson is the oldest of the five schools in the Tolleson Union High School District.- Students :...
, where his sister Bonnie Pendergast continues to teach math. He graduated from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in 1990.
Pendergast was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
(Fiji) Fraternity during his years as an undergraduate at the University of Arizona.