List of University of Kentucky alumni
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This is a list of encyclopedic people associated with the University of Kentucky in the United States of America.
Contents
Notable alumni (non-sports)
| Name | Degree / Years attended | Notable for |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Abell | National Geographic photographer | |
| Scotty Baesler | Former U.S. Representative from Kentucky | |
| Percival Baker | Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1921 | |
| Mark Berger | Economist | |
| Wendell Berry | Poet, essayist and farmer | |
| George Billman | Ph.D. (1980) | Professor of physiology at The Ohio State University |
| Sarah Gibson Blanding | First female president of Vassar College | |
| Robert A. Bryan | M.A., PhD | President of the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, and University of South Florida |
| Albert B. "Ben" Chandler | Former U.S. Representative from Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District | |
| Albert B. "Happy" Chandler | Governor of Kentucky, U.S. Senator from Kentucky, Commissioner of Major League Baseball responsible for integration and was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Emily Cox | Miss Kentucky 2008 | |
| Elizabeth Gould Davis | M. in Librarianship | author, librarian |
| Brady J. Deaton | Chancellor of the University of Missouri | |
| David Dick | B.A., M.A. in English literature | CBS News correspondent; Kentucky author and publisher; UK journalism faculty member, 1985-1996 |
| James Patrick Dunne | Songwriter, recording artist, composer, film and television producer, and entrepreneur | |
| Leonard S. Echols | Represented West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives | |
| Edward A. Eckenhoff | M.A. in Education | Founder and president of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C. |
| Mark P. Finlay | Architect | |
| Ernie Fletcher | Former Governor of Kentucky | |
| Carol Martin "Bill" Gatton | Businessman and major contributor to the university; namesake of College of Business and Economics | |
| Betty Jane Gorin-Smith | B.A. and M.A. | Historian |
| Sara Beth Gregory | B.A. (2003) and Law (2007) | Current member of the Kentucky State Senate, former state representative; lawyer in Monticello |
| Tom Hammond | Sportscaster | |
| Elizabeth Hardwick | Writer | |
| M. E. Hart | Played "MC Double Def DP" in the Software Publishers Association video Don't Copy That Floppy | |
| Gordon Henderson | Director of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band | |
| Andy Jackson | University of Florida men's tennis coach | |
| Ashley Judd | Actress; celebrity fan of the Wildcats (men's) basketball team | |
| Kim Yong-ik | M.A. | Author |
| William English Kirwan | Chancellor of the University System of Maryland; son of former university president A. D. Kirwan | |
| Glenn Kotche | A percussionist and composer, best known as drummer for Chicago rock band Wilco; named the 41st greatest drummer of all time by Gigwise in 2008 | |
| John E. Leland | Director of the University of Dayton Research Institute | |
| William Lipscomb | 1976 winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry | |
| Ken Lucas | Former U.S. representative from Kentucky's fourth congressional district | |
| Jerry Lundergan | Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party[1] | |
| Mitch McConnell | U.S. Senator from Kentucky, current Senate Majority Leader | |
| Rodney McMullen | CEO of The Kroger Company | |
| Hugh M. Milton II | United States Under Secretary of the Army from 1958 to 1961 | |
| Russ Mobley | Former state representative from Taylor and Adair counties | |
| Read Morgan | 1950–1952 | Actor (The Deputy); Wildcats basketball player |
| Thomas Hunt Morgan | Natural scientist and winner of the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | |
| Thomas Volney Munson | graduated 1870 | Horticulturalist |
| Story Musgrave | Astronaut | |
| Paul E. Patton | Two-term governor of Kentucky | |
| Beverly Perdue | Former governor of North Carolina | |
| Jean Ritchie | Folk musician, singer, and songwriter who plays the Appalachian dulcimer | |
| Elizabeth Madox Roberts | Kentucky poet and novelist | |
| Don Rosa | Eisner Award winning writer and artist of Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge comic books | |
| John T. Scopes | Defendant in the Scopes Trial | |
| Elvis Jacob Stahr Jr. | 1932–36 | Secretary of the Army under President John F. Kennedy, President of Indiana University and West Virginia University, and President of The National Audubon Society |
| Harry Dean Stanton | Actor known for playing Roman Grant on Big Love | |
| Ted Strickland | Former Governor of Ohio | |
| Chris T. Sullivan | Founder of Outback Steakhouse | |
| Kristine Sutherland | Actress, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | |
| Tom Jefferson Terral | Governor of Arkansas from 1925 to 1927 | |
| Lee T. Todd, Jr. | Former president of the University of Kentucky; inventor; entrepreneur | |
| Rudy Vaughn | Musician, singer-songwriter | |
| Frank Vogel | Current head coach for the Indiana Pacers | |
| Edwin O. Ware, Sr. | Baptist clergyman and principal founder of Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana | |
| Ed Whitfield | U.S. Representative from Kentucky's First Congressional District | |
| Yang Sung-chul | 1970 (Ph.D.) | Political scientist, South Korean ambassador to the United States (2000–2003)[2] |
| Michael York | Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting |
Sports alumni
Basketball
| Derek Anderson | 1994–97[b 1] | Former NBA player (2005–06 NBA champion) |
| Kelenna Azubuike | 2002–05 | Former NBA Cleveland Cavaliers player |
| Eric Bledsoe | 2009–10 | One of five first-round picks from UK in the 2010 NBA Draft and current player for the Phoenix Suns |
| Keith Bogans | 1999–2003 | NBA Boston Celtics player |
| Devin Booker | 2014–15 | NBA player for the Phoenix Suns |
| Sam Bowie | 1979–84[b 2] | 2nd pick in 1984 NBA Draft (ahead of Michael Jordan) |
| Dwane Casey | Former Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Rex Chapman | 1986–88 | Former NBA player and first-ever draft choice in Charlotte Hornets franchise history |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 2009–10 | One of five first-round picks from UK in the 2010 NBA Draft and current player for the Sacramento Kings[3] |
| Joe Crawford | 2004–2008 | NBA New York Knicks player; 2nd round draft; 58th pick overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers |
| Erik Daniels | 2000–04 | NBDL Fayetteville Patriots player |
| Anthony Davis | 2011–12 | Consensus men's college player of the year in 2011–12; now in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans |
| Tony Delk | 1992–96 | NBA Detroit Pistons player |
| Victoria Dunlap | 2007–11 | WNBA player with the Washington Mystics |
| Fabulous Five | N/A | 1948 Olympic basketball gold medalists |
| Richie Farmer | 1988–92 | Never played professional basketball; former Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, 2003–2011; federal inmate for crimes committed while Commissioner of Agriculture |
| Gerald Fitch | 2000–04 | TBL Galatasaray Cafe Crown player |
| Travis Ford | 1990–94[b 3] | Oklahoma State University men's basketball head coach |
| Taylor Fowler | 1948–1957 | NBA Miami Heat player |
| Anthony Epps | Former NCAA basketball champion | |
| Jack Givens | 1974–78 | 1978 NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player |
| Kevin Grevey | 1972–75 | Former NBA player |
| Josh Harrellson | 2008–11 | NBA player for the Detroit Pistons |
| Chuck Hayes | 2001–05 | NBA player with the Toronto Raptors |
| Dan Issel | 1966–70 | All-time leading men's scorer and former Denver Nuggets head coach |
| Terrence Jones | 2010–12 | 18th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and current player for the Houston Rockets |
| Enes Kanter | 2010–11[b 4] | 3rd pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and current player for the Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | 2011–12 | 2nd pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and current player for the Charlotte Bobcats |
| Doron Lamb | 2010–12 | NBA player for the Orlando Magic |
| Brandon Knight | 2010–11 | 8th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and current player for the Phoenix Suns |
| Trey Lyles | 2014–15 | NBA player for the Utah Jazz |
| Kyle Macy | 1976–79[b 5] | Former Morehead State University men's basketball head coach |
| Jamaal Magloire | 1996–2000 | NBA Toronto Raptors player |
| Jamal Mashburn | 1990–93 | Former NBA All-Star; current ESPN basketball analyst |
| Steve Masiello | 1996–2000 | Current head coach at Manhattan College |
| Walter McCarty | 1992–96[b 6] | Former NBA player; current assistant coach at the University of Louisville |
| Ron Mercer | 1995–97 | Current NBA free agent who has played with 7 different teams |
| Darius Miller | 2008–12 | NBA player for the New Orleans Pelicans |
| Dirk Minniefield | 1979–83 | Former NBA player |
| Nazr Mohammed | 1995–98 | NBA Chicago Bulls player; member of the 2004–05 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs |
| Randolph Morris | 2004–07 | Former NBA player |
| Cotton Nash | 1961–64 | Former NBA player and MLB outfielder |
| Nerlens Noel | 2012–13 | 6th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and current player for the Philadelphia 76ers |
| Daniel Orton | 2009–10 | One of five first-round picks from UK in the 2010 NBA Draft |
| Scott Padgett | 1994–99[b 7] | Former NBA and ACB player; current head coach at Samford University |
| Patrick Patterson | 2007–10 | One of five first-round picks from UK in the 2010 NBA Draft and current player for the Toronto Raptors |
| John Pelphrey | 1988–92 | Current assistant at the University of Florida; former head coach at the University of Arkansas |
| Mark Pope | 1993–96[b 8] | Former NBA player; current head coach at Utah Valley University |
| Tayshaun Prince | 1998–2002 | NBA Memphis Grizzlies player; member of the 2003–04 NBA champion Detroit Pistons |
| Frank Ramsey | 1950–54 | Seven-time NBA champion |
| Julius Randle | 2013–14 | NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers |
| Pat Riley | 1963–67 | NBA Miami Heat former coach, and current team president; coached the 2005–06 NBA champion Miami Heat |
| Rajon Rondo | 2004–06 | NBA Sacramento Kings player; member of the 2007–08 NBA champion Boston Celtics |
| Jeff Sheppard | 1993–98[b 9] | 1998 NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player |
| Valerie Still | 1979–83 | Leading scorer in UK basketball history, male or female; played professionally in Europe and the ABL before briefly playing for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA; younger sister of UK football great Art Still |
| Marquis Teague | 2011–12 | NBA player for the Brooklyn Nets |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 2014–15 | 1st pick of the 2015 NBA draft; current player for the Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Wayne Turner | 1995–99 | ANBL New Zealand Breakers player; ended his UK career as the all-time NCAA leader in games played (record since surpassed) |
| Antoine Walker | 1994–96 | Retired NBA player with several teams (2005–06 NBA champion with the Miami Heat) |
| Kenny Walker | 1982–86 | 1985–86 All-American and 5th pick in the 1986 NBA Draft |
| John Wall | 2009–10 | 1st pick of the 2010 NBA draft; current player for the Washington Wizards |
| Bobby Watson | Former NBA player | |
| Sean Woods | 1988–92 | Current head coach at Morehead State University |
Notes
- For players who enrolled from 1954 through 1971, their actual playing career did not start until a year after they first attended. At that time, freshmen were ineligible to play at varsity level.
- ↑ Did not play until 1995State]].
- ↑ Did not play in the 1981–82 or 1982–83 seasons due to injury.
- ↑ Did not play until 1991, as he had to sit out the 1990–91 season after transferring from Missouri.
- ↑ Although Kanter enrolled at Kentucky, he never played because he was declared ineligible by the NCAA due to financial benefits he had received from his former Turkish club team of Fenerbahçe Ülker.
- ↑ Did not play until 1977, as he had to sit out the 1976–77 season after transferring from Purdue.
- ↑ Did not play in the 1992–93 season for academic reasons.
- ↑ Did not play in 1995–96 or the first half of the 1996–97 season for academic reasons.
- ↑ Did not play until 1994, as he had to sit out the 1993–94 season after transferring from Washington.
- ↑ Did not play in the 1996–97 season due to injury.
Football
| Name | Years attended | Notable for |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Abney | NFL, former Chicago Bears wide receiver | |
| George Blanda | American Football League MVP, 1961, two-time AFL champ, and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame | |
| Shane Boyd | Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback | |
| Chuck Bradley | Gridiron football offensive tackle | |
| Neal Brown | University of Kentucky offensive coordinator | |
| Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns | Former NFL Indianapolis Colts defensive end | |
| Jerry Claiborne | 1946–1950 | Former head football coach |
| Randall Cobb | 2008–2016[5] | Current wide receiver and return specialist with the Green Bay Packers; first person born in the 1990s to play in the NFL |
| Tim Couch | 1996–1999 | Former Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback |
| Dermontti Dawson | Former NFL offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers; inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012 | |
| David De La Peralle | Former CFL offensive lineman | |
| Mark Higgs | Former NFL running back | |
| Glenn Holt | NFL Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver | |
| Christian Johnson | Arena Football League player | |
| Dennis Johnson | Former San Francisco 49ers defensive end; currently with the Lexington Horsemen | |
| Don King | Former NFL defensive tackle | |
| Kelly Kirchbaum | Professional football player | |
| Jared Lorenzen | Former New York Giants quarterback | |
| Ricky Lumpkin | NFL player | |
| Tim Masthay | Current punter for the Green Bay Packers | |
| Marlon McCree | Former San Diego Chargers, current Denver Broncos safety | |
| Rick Nuzum | Former NFL center | |
| Babe Parilli | Three-time American Football League all-star and 1968 Super Bowl champ | |
| Joe "Joker" Phillips | 1981–85 | Former wide receiver for the Washington Redskins and the CFL's Toronto Argonauts; former UK head coach |
| Artose Pinner | Former Minnesota Vikings running back | |
| Derrick Ramsey | 1974–78 | Former tight end for three NFL teams; athletic director at Coppin State University, 2008–present |
| Dewayne Robertson | Former New York Jets, former Denver Broncos defensive tackle | |
| Howard Schnellenberger | Retired football coach, most recently with Florida Atlantic; former head coach of the NFL's Baltimore Colts, and of Miami, Louisville, and Oklahoma in the college ranks | |
| Art Still | Former Kansas City Chiefs player and 4-time Pro Bowler; older brother of Valerie Still (see basketball alumni) | |
| Jeff Van Note | Former Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman and 6-time Pro Bowler | |
| Moe Williams | Former Minnesota Vikings running back | |
| Ken Willis | Former Dallas Cowboys kicker | |
| Earl Wilson | NFL and CFL player | |
| Craig Yeast | 1995–1998 | Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver |
Baseball
| Name | Years attended | Notable for |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Blanton | Major League Baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates; member of the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies, winner of Game 4 of the 2008 World Series | |
| Collin Cowgill | Outfielder with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |
| Andy Green | Currently with the New York Mets, former player of the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| Jason Kipnis | Second baseman for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Jim Leyritz | Former Major League Baseball player, most notably for the New York Yankees | |
| A. J. Reed | 2011–2014 | Current Minor League Baseball player in the Houston Astros organization; consensus NCAA Division I player of the year in 2014 |
| Brandon Webb | Pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner |
Golf
- Russ Cochran, Golfer on the PGA Champions Tour[6]
- Steve Flesch, Golfer on the PGA Tour
- J. B. Holmes, Golfer on the PGA Tour
Gymnastics
- Jenny Hansen, 13-time All-American gymnast, who continues to hold every individual gymnastics record in UK school history; selected as the "NCAA 25th Anniversary Most Outstanding Gymnast"
Soccer
- Andy Gruenebaum, MLS goalkeeper
- Barry Rice, American soccer defender
References
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- ↑ Left full-time study at UK for the NFL in 2011; received degree in 2016.[4]
- ↑ [1]
