CLEMSON, S.C. (WSPA) – The name of Clemson Police Department Detective Chris Chancellor can be found on the Tiger Walk near Death Valley.
However, one thing that remains a mystery is how Chancellor became a Tigers football star in the first place. He grew up with his brother in Miami and both wound up signing to play at Clemson.
“I still don’t know what made me come to Clemson,” said Chancellor. “It was just one of those things that felt like a family atmosphere.”
Chancellor played in 53 games between 2006-2009 and made 44 starts for the Tigers secondary. He had nine interceptions in his career with three of them coming against rival South Carolina.
He also was a pain at practice for Clemson wide receivers Coach Dabo Swinney during his first two and a half seasons at Clemson.
“I used to win a lot of the matchups going against his receivers,” Chancellor recalled. “And Dabo used to get so mad and so angry. ‘Guys, how do y’all keep letting him do this? Y’all He’s short. He’s like, 5-8 140 (pounds).'”
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Credit: Clemson University Athletics -
Credit: Clemson University Athletics -
Credit: Clemson University Athletics -
Credit: Clemson University AthleticsSON, SC – SEPTEMBER 5: of the Clemson Tigers of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Memorial Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Clemson, South Carolina. Photo by Rex Brown. -
Credit: Clemson University Athletics
Swinney became Clemson’s interim head coach during Chancellor’s junior season and full-time coach when he was a senior. “He’s always one phone call away, and I love him to death,” Chancellor told 7NEWS.
Chancellor made the Dean’s List at Clemson before graduating. He signed as a free agent to play in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and later in Jacksonville before making another decision in 2011.
“My plan B was to become a police officer and eventually a detective.”
Chancellor has accomplished that mission.
He joined the Clemson University Police Department for a little more than a year before moving over to the Clemson Police Department. He moved up from patrol to detective where he remains now.
“I want to make a difference in everybody’s lives. Maybe I want to help people, help the unfortunate that’s not able to help themselves or speak for themselves,” according to Chancellor.
“(What) makes a great detective? One that’s very organized, one that’s very structural, one that’s able to get out in the community and not just sit behind a desk.”
The detective has little time to sit behind a desk. He’s back in football in his spare time as an assistant coach at Daniel High School.
“I’ve been coaching little league football since 2014 and being able to transition over to Daniel High School, especially with some of the kids that I’ve coached in the community since 2014,” Chancellor said. “It’s helped me grow as a person, you know, as a father, as a husband and as a coach.”
