# List of Ball State University alumni

This is a list of notable alumni of Ball State University.

## Arts, literature, and entertainment

* Christine Barger, actor; best known for iCarly, Superstore, American Pie: Beta House, Barry
* Bridget Bobel, Miss Indiana USA 2006
* Ellen Bryan, Miss Ohio 2011
* Claire Buffie, Miss New York 2010
* Angelin Chang, Grammy-award-winning classical pianist
* Brian Collins, reporter at KXXV-TV in Waco, Texas; best known for "Boom goes the dynamite" viral video
* Frances Currey (1925–2012), artist
* Jim Davis, cartoonist of Garfield
* Philip F. Deaver, writer and poet who graduated from St. Joseph's College in 1968; O. Henry and Flannery O'Connor awards winner
* Andy Devine (1905–1977), actor, Stagecoach
* Joyce DeWitt, actress in Three's Company
* Ashley C. Ford, writer for BuzzFeed, ELLE and others
* Danny Gaither, Christian singer, best known for his work with the Bill Gaither Trio
* Stedman Graham, publicist and author; long-time companion of Oprah Winfrey
* Scott Halberstadt, actor in Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh
* Doug Jones, actor in Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Hocus Pocus, and "Mac Tonight"
* David Letterman, retired host of the Late Show with David Letterman; The Letterman Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming has been a repeated contributor to the university
* Mike Lopresti, national sportswriter for Gannett News Service
* Cheryl Anne Lorance, artist
* David Loughery, screenwriter and film producer
* Larry Monroe (1942–2014), radio personality
* Anthony Montgomery, actor, Star Trek: Enterprise, General Hospital
* Sister Edith Pfau (1915–2001), painter, sculptor, and art educator
* Sam Smith, journalist for the Chicago Tribune
* Israel Solomon, artist
* Kim Sun-a (김선아), South Korean actress in She's on Duty and My Name is Kim Sam Soon
* Tiara Thomas, R&B singer, featured on Wale's 2013 song "Bad", which peaked at #31 on the Billboard Hot 100
* Kevin James Thornton, comedian; best known for Comedy Special “Be Yourself”
* Nelly Vuksic, Argentine conductor and musician
* Bill Wallace, dominant kickboxer of the 1970s; starred in A Force of One and The Protector
* Cynda Williams, actress in Mo' Better Blues and One False Move
* Ryan Woodle, actor; best known for Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods

## Business

* Angela Ahrendts, former senior vice president of retail, Apple; former CEO of Burberry
* Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide
* Craig Hartman, honorary doctorate, architect and partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
* Peter Jubeck, founder of Sir Pizza of Michigan and Clara's restaurants
* Kent C. Nelson, retired president and CEO of UPS
* John Schnatter, founder and former chairman of Papa John's Pizza restaurants

## Politics and government

* Amanda Carpenter, national reporter for TownHall.com and Senior Communications Advisor and Speechwriter for Senator Ted Cruz
* Jeffrey D. Feltman, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and former United States Ambassador to Lebanon
* Suzette Kimball, 16th Director of the United States Geological Survey, a bureau of the United States Department of the Interior
* Brent McMillan, national Political Director for the Green Party
* Rodney C. Moen, Wisconsin State Senator
* Richard Mourdock, Indiana Treasurer of State
* Frank J. Mrvan, U.S. Representative from Indiana (2021– )
* John Rarick (1924–2009), U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1967–1975)

## Sports
### National Football League

* Blaine Bishop, former NFL player, Tennessee Titans
* Robert Brewster, NFL player (offensive tackle), Dallas Cowboys
* Rush Brown, NFL player (defensive lineman), St. Louis Cardinals
* Corey Croom, NFL player (running back), New England Patriots
* Jerome Davis, former NFL player, Detroit Lions
* Reggie Hodges, NFL player (punter), Tennessee Titans
* Ed Konopasek, former NFL player (offensive tackle), Green Bay Packers
* Brad Maynard, NFL player (punter), Chicago Bears
* Keith McKenzie, former NFL player (defensive end), Green Bay Packers
* Bernie Parmalee, former NFL player, Miami Dolphins; current running backs coach for the NFL Las Vegas Raiders
* Danny Pinter, NFL player (center), Indianapolis Colts
* Dante Ridgeway, NFL player (wide receiver), New York Jets
* Terry Schmidt, former NFL player, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears
* Willie Snead, wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens
* Shafer Suggs, former NFL player, New York Jets

### National Basketball Association

* Theron Smith, NBA basketball player (small forward), Charlotte Bobcats
* Bonzi Wells, NBA basketball player (shooting guard/small forward), New Orleans Hornets

### Major League Baseball

* Larry Bigbie, MLB baseball player (outfielder), St. Louis Cardinals
* Bryan Bullington, MLB baseball player (pitcher), Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, and Toronto Blue Jays
* Alex Call, MLB baseball player (outfielder), Washington Nationals
* Jeremy Hazelbaker, MLB baseball player (outfielder), St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks
* Thomas Howard, 11-year MLB baseball player (outfielder), Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers (1990–2000)
* Zach Plesac, baseball player (pitcher), Cleveland Indians
* Merv Rettenmund, NFL draft pick (Dallas Cowboys), 13-year MLB baseball player (outfielder), Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, California Angels (1968–1980)
* Brad Snyder, baseball player (outfielder), Chicago Cubs

### Other athletes

* Jarrod Jones (born 1990), American-Hungarian basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Marcus Norris (born 1974), basketball player, 2003-04 Israeli Basketball Premier League Defensive Player of the Year
* John Paul, racing driver
* Sunungura Rusununguko, Arena Football League player
* Apsara Sakbun, swimmer who represented Cambodia in the 2024 Summer Olympics
* Jamill Smith, Ottawa Redblacks player
* Terrence Watson (born 1987), American-Israeli basketball player for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Premier League

## Other

* Arnie Ball, former men's volleyball coach at Purdue-Fort Wayne
* Bill Doba, football coach at Washington State University
* David Haugh, sports columnist for Chicago Tribune
* Brady Hoke, former head football coach, University of Michigan, San Diego State University and Ball State University
* Jon Hoke, assistant football coach with the Chicago Bears
* Ray McCallum, basketball coach at University of Detroit Mercy, Ball State, and University of Houston
* Mark Patrick, sports radio personality
* Kelly Sheffield, volleyball coach at Wisconsin, also coached at Albany 2001–2007 and Dayton 2008–2012
* Dave Shondell, women's volleyball coach at Purdue
* Don Shondell, ESPN and ABC collegiate volleyball commentator
* Craig Skinner, women's volleyball coach at Kentucky
* Jason Whitlock, commentator for Fox Sports One, former sports columnist for The Kansas City Star, AOL Sports, and ESPN.com