# List of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo people

This article lists notable alumni of the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

## Arts and media

* Pedro Armendáriz (1912–1963), character actor, award-winning leading man in dozens of films from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema
* Michael Berryman (born 1948), actor
* Dave Carnie (born 1969), writer, artist, former editor of Big Brother Magazine
* Irene Chan (born 1965), artist
* Margo Chase (1958–2017), graphic designer
* Luke Chueh, contemporary artist
* Michelle Franzen (born 1968), television and radio journalist for NBC News and ABC News
* Danny Gans (1956–2009), Las Vegas entertainer
* Nathan L. Good (born 1954), architect
* Paula Huston (born 1952), author
* John Madden (1936-2021), Pro Football Hall of Fame broadcaster, head coach, and player
* Cassie McFarland (born 1985), artist, designed the obverse of the 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coin
* Andy Paiko (born 1977), contemporary glass artist
* George Ramos (1947–2011), three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
* Suzanne Roberts (born 1970), poet, travel writer, and photographer
* Zach Shallcross (born 1996), reality television personality, The Bachelor
* M. Ward (born 1973), folk musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist
* "Weird Al" Yankovic (born 1959), rock parodist and entertainer

## Business

* James Griffin Boswell, chairman of the board, J.G. Boswell Company
* Jamie Evans, cannabis professional
* Noel Lee, President and founder, Monster Cable
* Bob Mazzuca (B.S. History, 1970), Chief Scout Executive of Boy Scouts of America
* Farzad Nazem (B.S. Computer Science, 1981), former Chief Technology Officer of Yahoo!
* Peter Oppenheimer (B.S. Ag Business, 1985), former Chief Financial Officer of Apple Computer
* William H. Swanson (B.S. Industrial Engineering, 1973) (born 1950), Chairman and CEO of Raytheon

## Politics and government

* Tom Berryhill, Stanislaus County Supervisor, former California State Senator
* Warren Church, Monterey County Board of Supervisors
* Jeff Denham, former United States Representative for California's 10th congressional district
* Dennis Hollingsworth (born 1967), former California State Senator
* Doug LaMalfa, United States Representative for California's 1st congressional district
* Abel Maldonado (born 1967), 47th Lieutenant Governor of California
* Bruce McPherson (born 1944), 30th California Secretary of State
* Mohammadreza Nematzadeh, Minister of Labour and Minister of Industry and Mine in the Islamic Republic of Iran
* Devin Nunes, former United States Representative for California's 22nd Congressional District
* George Radanovich, former United States Representative for California's 19th congressional district
* Robert C. Tapella, 25th Public Printer of the United States

## Science and technology

* Michael Alsbury, commercial astronaut, Virgin Galactic test pilot; killed in the 2014 Virgin Galactic crash
* Tory Bruno, rocket scientist and CEO of United Launch Alliance
* Greg Chamitoff (born 1962), astronaut
* Robert L. Gibson (born 1946), astronaut
* Victor J. Glover (born 1976), astronaut
* David Haussler, professor at University of California, Santa Cruz
* Mark Lucovsky, software architect and a part of the team that designed Windows NT
* Kristen Maitland, optical scientist and Fellow of SPIE
* Alison Murray, biochemist and Antarctic researcher
* Aaron Peckham, owner and creator of UrbanDictionary
* Burt Rutan (born 1943), designer of SpaceShipOne and Rutan Voyager
* Peter Siebold, commercial astronaut, Virgin Galactic test pilot
* Frederick W. Sturckow (born 1961), astronaut

## Athletics
### Baseball

* Justin Bruihl (born 1997), MLB pitcher
* Kevin Correia (born 1980), MLB pitcher
* Casey Fien (born 1983), MLB pitcher
* Mitch Haniger (born 1990), MLB outfielder for the San Francisco Giants
* Mike Krukow (born 1952), former MLB pitcher and current broadcast announcer
* Bud Norris (born 1985), MLB pitcher
* Garrett Olson (born 1983), former MLB pitcher
* John Orton (born 1965), former MLB catcher
* Ozzie Smith (born 1954), MLB Hall of Fame shortstop
* Dean Treanor (born 1947), manager of the Indianapolis Indians
* Joey Wagman (born 1991), pitcher
* Bryan Woo (born 2000), MLB pitcher for the Seattle Mariners

### Basketball

* Sean Chambers (born 1965), PBA player for the Alaska Aces
* Chris Eversley (born 1991), ABL player for the Malaysia Dragons
* Mike LaRoche (born 1946), ABA player for the Los Angeles Stars
* David Nwaba (born 1993), NBA player for the Chicago Bulls
* Joe Prunty (born 1969), NBA assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks
* Derek Stockalper (born 1984), FIBA player for Swiss National Team
* Drake U'u (born 1990), NBL player for the Perth Wildcats

### Football

* Marijon Ancich, high school football coach with the most wins in California history
* Ramses Barden (born 1986), former NFL wide receiver
* Bobby Beathard (born 1937), NFL Hall of Fame GM
* Jordan Beck (born 1983), NFL linebacker
* Alex Bravo (born 1930), former NFL defensive back
* Courtney Brown (born 1984), former NFL defensive back
* Sal Cesario (born 1963), former NFL offensive guard
* Jim Criner (born 1940), college football head coach
* Nick Dzubnar (born 1991), linebacker for San Diego Chargers
* Chris Gocong (born 1983), NFL linebacker
* Asa Jackson (born 1989), NFL cornerback
* Mel Kaufman (1958–2009), former NFL linebacker Washington Redskins, 1981–1988
* John Madden (1936-2021), Pro Football Hall of Fame broadcaster, head coach, and player
* Dana Nafziger (born 1953), NFL player
* Ted Tollner (born 1940), former NFL coach
* Cecil Turner (born 1944), former NFL WR/KR Chicago Bears, 1968–1973, selected to 1971 NFL Pro Bowl
* Fred Whittingham (born 1939), former NFL linebacker and coach

### Other athletes

* Kip Colvey (born 1994), professional soccer player for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer; represents his home country New Zealand in international FIFA tournaments
* Sharon Day (born 1985), former NCAA women's high jump champion, 2011 USA outdoor national heptathlon champion
* Sean Johnston (rally driver) (born 1990), American World Rally Championship driver
* Dean Karnazes, ultramarathoner
* Karen Kraft, U.S. silver medalist in coxless pair rowing at the 1996 Summer Olympics and a bronze medalist in coxless pairs at the 2000 Summer Olympics
* Gene Lenz, All-American college swimmer, 1960 Summer Olympics finalist in the 400-meter freestyle
* Chuck Liddell (born 1969), wrestler; retired mixed martial artist, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, and UFC Hall of Fame member
* Gan McGee, professional MMA fighter
* Chad Mendes (born 1985), 2008 NCAA wrestling runner-up at 141 lbs., professional MMA fighter, UFC featherweight contender
* Gina Miles, U.S. silver medalist in individual eventing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
* Borislav Novachkov, Olympic wrestler
* Gina Oceguera (born 1977), World Cup soccer player
* Anton Peterlin (born 1987), soccer player
* Victor Plata (born 1973), USA Olympian in the triathlon
* Loren Roberts (born 1955), professional golfer on the PGA Tour
* Monty Roberts (born 1935), professional horse trainer, former rodeo rider, and author
* Taylor Spivey (born 1991), college swimmer, USA Olympian in the triathlon
* Stephanie Brown Trafton (born 1979), U.S. gold medalist in discus throw at the 2008 Summer Olympics
* Maggie Vessey (born 1981), professional 800-meter runner
* Barton Williams (born 1956), NCAA All-American 400m-hurdler

## Others

* Scott C. Black (born 1952), lieutenant general (United States Army, Retired), 37th Judge Advocate General of the United States Army; the first lieutenant general to hold that position
* Wil Dasovich, Filipino American YouTube personality
* Maya Higa (born 1998), conservationist, falconer, wildlife rehabilitator, and Twitch streamer
* Laci Peterson (born 1975)
* Scott Peterson, convicted murderer
* Kristin Smart (born 1977)
* Gilbert H. Stork, president of Cuesta College