List of Illinois State University alumni

This is a list of Illinois State University alumni who are notable enough to warrant an article in Wikipedia. The list is organized by general fields of achievement.

Richard Roeper

Suzy Bogguss

Donald McHenry

Armed forces

• Thomas R. Lamont was the US Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) (June 26, 2009 – October 1, 2014)^[1]

Business

• Patti S. Hart is a former chairman/president/CEO of Pinnacle Systems Inc.^[2]
• Nicholas J. Percoco – Founder of Trustwave's SpiderLabs, Creator of THOTCON and Vice President at Rapid7
• Mike Hosmer - Recruiter at Trustwave. Responsible for the rapid influx of quality talent pushing Trustwave to become highly regarded as one of the top tier security firms in America.
• Joe Reynolds – CEO and founder of Red Frog Events.^[3]
• Tom Schmal – B.S. Economics, 1973. "Improve the Economics of your Capital Project by Finding its True Cost of Capital," RePEc, 2015, http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/pramprapa/68092.htm

Education

• J. Michael Adams – is the president of Farleigh Dickinson University.^[4]
• K. Patricia Cross – is a retired professor from University of California-Berkeley, Dr. Cross was a senior lecturer and chair of the Department of Administration, Planning, and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.^[5]
• Reg Weaver – president of the National Education Association^[6]

Journalism and letters

• Todd Heisler, photojournalist and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography
• Richard Roeper is an author, columnist, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, and co-host of the television show At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper.^[7]
• Randy Salerno was an Emmy award–winning news anchor at WGN-TV and WBBM-TV in Chicago.^[7]

Law

• Michael P. McCuskey – Federal Judge^[8]
• Derek Green - Canadian Jurist and Current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador

Literature

• Norbert Blei – author of the Chicago trilogy of Neighborhoods, The Ghost of Sandburg-Es Phizzog, and Chi Town.^[9]
• Mort Castle – is a writer specializing in the horror genre. He has written seven novels, two short story collections, and hundreds of "shorter works."^[10]
• Kate Charles – is a mystery novelist who bases all of her novels out of the Church of England. Her works include Evil Angels Among Them, Unruly Passions, and Cruel Habitations.^[11]
• Eric Rohmann – is an author and illustrator of children's books. He received the 2003 Caldecott medal for My Friend Rabbit. He also received a 1995 Caldecott Honor book award for Time Flies. His other titles include The Cinder Cats and The Prairie Train.^[12]

Music

• Suzy Bogguss is a country music singer and guitarist.^[13][14]
• Syleena Johnson – musician^[15]
• Gregory Kunde, operatic tenor^[16]
• Rex Martin – is one of the world's foremost tuba players and has played a key role in the development of new tubas for manufacturers in Germany and Japan.^[17]
• Michelle Williams (attended) – musician, Destiny's Child^[18]

Politics

Jeremy Accardo

Neal Cotts

D. A. Weibring

• Pamela Althoff – state senator.^[19]
• William B. Black – state representative.^[20]
• Laura Murphy - state senator
• Jim Durkin – a Republican member of Illinois House of Representatives.^[21]
• Jay Hoffman – state representative.^[22]
• Lyman Beecher Kellogg – President of Emporia State University from 1865 to 1871; 14th Kansas Attorney General.
• Adam Kinzinger – serves as a U.S. Representative for Illinois's 16th congressional district.^[23]
• Frank Mautino – state representative.^[24]
• Donald McHenry is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1979–81).^[25]
• George P. McLain (1847–1930), Los Angeles City Council member at the turn of the 19th–20th centuries.
• Jerry Mitchell – state representative.^[26]
• Kitty Rhoades – Wisconsin State Assembly.^[27]
• Dan Rutherford – 2014 candidate for Governor of Illinois, and current Treasurer for the state of Illinois.^[28]
• Arthur Turner - member of Illinois House of Representatives.

Sports

• Mike Zimmer was hired as NFL's Minnesota Vikings' ninth head coach on January 15, 2014. He led the Vikings to the 2015 NFC North championship and the 2016 NFL playoffs.
• Jeremy Accardo has been a relief pitcher (2005–present) for seven Major League Baseball teams^[29]
• Dave Bergman is a former Major League Baseball first baseman (1975, 77–92). He was a member of the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers. His uniform #12 has been retired by the ISU baseball team.^[30][31]
• Cathy Boswell is a member of the U.S. Olympic gold medal basketball team. She played professional basketball in Italy.^[32]
• Lee "Buzz" Capra is a former All-Star Major League baseball pitcher (1971–77). He led the National League in ERA in 1974.^[33]
• Aveion Cason is a former NFL running back (2001–08).^[34]
• Doug Collins is a television sports commentator and former head coach of the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards. He was the number one overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers (1973–81) before starting a coaching career. He was a member of the 1972 men's Olympic basketball team, which was involved in a controversial game against the USSR. His uniform #20 has been retired by ISU, and he is the subject of a statue at the university.^[35][36][37]
• Neal Cotts is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher (2003–present). He was a member of the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox.^[38][39]
• Luke Drone is a former NFL player and current AF2 player.^[40]
• Eric Eckenstahler, former Major League Baseball pitcher, played for the Detroit Tigers^[41]
• Sha-Ron Edwards is a running back for the Atlanta Falcons.^[42]
• Steve Fisher is a college basketball coach, currently coaching at San Diego State University. He is the former head coach at the University of Michigan where he led the team to the 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.^[43][44]
• Kevin Glenn is a CFL quarterback. A finalist for the league's MVP award in 2007, he currently plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.^[45][46]
• James "Boomer" Grigsby is a former NFL fullback (2005–08), playing most of his career for the Kansas City Chiefs.^[47][48]
• Brent Hawkins is a former NFL defensive end (2006–07), playing his entire NFL career for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He currently plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.^[49][50]
• Matt Herges is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher (1999–present).^[51]
• Brandon Joyce is the offensive lineman for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts^[52]
• Ed Kinsella was the first athlete from ISU to play in Major League Baseball (1905, 1910).^[53][54]
• Dan Kolb is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher (1999–2007).^[55][56]
• Charlotte Lewis was a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic gold medal women's basketball team.^[57]
• Jim Meyer is a former NFL offensive tackle (1987).^[58]
• Jay Miller coached the U.S. national softball team to a gold medal at the U.S. Cup in Hawaii in 2001.^[59]
• Dennis Nelson was a starting offensive tackle for the Super Bowl championship team of the Baltimore Colts during the 1970s.^[60]
• Tom Nelson was an NFL safety for the Cincinnati Bengals,^[61] Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens.
• Mike Prior is a former NFL defensive back (1985, 87–98). He was a member of the Super Bowl XXXI champion Green Bay Packers.^[62][63]
• Lorene Ramsey is a retired women's basketball coach of Illinois Central College, who with a career record of 887–197, won more games than any other women's basketball coach at any college level.^[64]
• Laurent Robinson is an NFL wide receiver (2007–present), currently playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars.^[65][66]
• Mark Rodenhauser was a center for seven NFL teams.
• Cameron Siskowic is a linebacker for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.^[67]
• Kye Stewart is a linebacker currently playing with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders.^[68]
• D. A. Weibring is a PGA golfer. ISU's golf course is named in his honor.^[69][70][71]
• Tom Wieghaus is a former Major League Baseball catcher (1981, 83–84).^[72][73]
• Isaiah Wiggins is an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens.^[74]
• Margie Wright was named to the USA Olympic softball team as an assistant coach for the 1996 Atlanta Games, and became in 2000 the softball coach with the most all-time NCAA wins.^[75]

Theatre/Movies

Gary Cole

John Malkovich

Laurie Metcalf

Tim Russ

• Carlos Bernard (1991), an actor (Tony Almeida on 24).^[7] He has also been seen on The Young and the Restless.
• Gary Cole (1978), an actor known for his work on screen (Office Space, Pineapple Express) and television (Midnight Caller, The West Wing).^[7]
• Suzzanne Douglass is an actress (The Parent 'Hood, Tap).^[7]
• Nelsan Ellis (attended, transferred in 1999) is an actor, perhaps best known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds on the television series True Blood.^[76]
• Carlo Lorenzo Garcia – is an actor and director. He is the producing director of Mary-Arrchie Theatre and an associate artist with Chicago Dramatists, best known for his roles in Innocent and Anything is Possible.^[77]
• Gary Griffin is a producer with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.^[7]
• Moira Harris (1976), an actress (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines).^[7]
• Reggie Hayes (1991), an actor, perhaps best known for his role on the television series Girlfriends^[7]
• Sean Hayes is an actor, perhaps best known for his Emmy award–winning role as Jack McFarland on the television series Will & Grace.^[7]
• Tom Irwin (1979), an actor, best known for his work on television (Saving Grace My So-Called Life).^[7]
• Judith Ivey (1973), a two–time Tony Award-winning actress (Steaming, Hurlyburly).^[7]
• Terry Kinney (1976), a theatrical director and actor (Tim McManus on the television series Oz).^[7]
• Natasha Leggero is an actress and stand up comedian. Leggero also appears regularly on the Chelsea Lately roundtable
• John LeMay is an actor who held the starring role in the syndicated television show Friday the 13th: The Series.^[78]
• Jane Lynch (1982), an actress known for her work on film (Best in Show, A Mighty Wind) and television (Glee).^[7]
• John Malkovich (attended, and awarded a degree in 2005) is a well known film and theater actor (In the Line of Fire, Rounders, Being John Malkovich) who is a two-time Academy Award nominee.^[7]
• David McFadzean is a writer and producer for Wind Dancer Productions. He created and produced the TV show Home Improvement and has served as executive producer for the films Where the Heart Is and What Women Want.^[79]
• Laurie Metcalf (1976), an actress with many film, television and theater credits. She is perhaps best known for her role as Jackie on the television series Roseanne. Metcalf won three Emmy awards for that role.^[7]
• William O'Leary (1980), an actor (Home Improvement, Hot Shots!).^[7]
• Jeff Perry (1978), an actor perhaps best known for his work on television (Scandal, Nash Bridges, Grey's Anatomy).^[7]
• Rondi Reed (1977), a Tony Award–winning actress (August: Osage County).^[7]
• Craig Robinson (1994), actor, The Office; Pineapple Express; Zack and Miri Make a Porno; Knocked Up^[80]
• Tim Russ is an actor, perhaps best known for his role as Tuvok on the television series Star Trek: Voyager.^[7]
• Gary Sinise – is a film and television actor (CSI: NY, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13)
• Cecilia Suárez is an actress who works in both American and Mexican cinema (The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, The Air I Breathe).^[7]
• Yvonne Suhor – actress (The Young Riders; Northern Exposure)
• Bruce A. Young is an actor known for his work in television (The Sentinel) and film (Risky Business, Jurassic Park III).^[7]

References

1. "Thomas R. Lamont". Illinois State University. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
2. "Business: Notable Alumni." Illinois State University. Retrieved on February 20, 2009.
3. The innovators: Red Frog's Joe Reynolds runs a race like no one else, retrieved November 16, 2012.
4. J. Michael Adams, A Visionary Leader, retrieved November 16, 2012.
5. "K. Patricia Cross". College of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
6. "Education: Notable Alumni." Illinois State University. Retrieved on February 20, 2009.
7. "Theatre Alumni". Illinois State University College of Fine Arts. 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
8. "Michael McCuskey". Illinois State.edu.
9. Ellis Press, retrieved November 16, 2012.
10. Horror World, retrieved November 16, 2012.
11. Ten Famous Illinois State University Graduates, retrieved November 16, 2012.
12. Caldecott-winning Illustrator/Author Eric Rohmann to Appear in Champaign, retrieved November 16, 2012.
13. Craft, Dan (December 4, 2003), "Illinois State graduate Suzy Bogguss brings her latest sounds back home", The Daily Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL, USA)
14. Clarke, Dave (June 2, 2009), "Suzy Bogguss to sing for the folks back home", Star Courier (Kewanee, IL, USA), retrieved December 27, 2009, Suzy Bogguss fans will want to be in Aledo Saturday for the 18th annual Rhubarb Fest ... After high school she went to Illinois State University, where she earned a degree in, of all things, metalsmithing.
15. "Syleena Johnson". Illinois State University Alumni Association. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
16. "Gregory Kunde" (PDF). Illinois State University. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
17. ITEA, retrieved November 12, 2012.
18. "Michelle Williams". Illinois State University Alumni Association. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
19. About Senator Althoff, retrieved November 16, 2012.
20. Illinois General Assembly, retrieved November 16, 2012.
21. "." VoteSmart. Retrieved on January 10, 2012.
22. About Jay Hoffman, retrieved November 16, 2012.
23. Adam Kinzinger, retrieved November 16, 2012.
24. Illinois General Assembly, retrieved November 16, 2012.
25. "Government and Public Service: Notable Alumni." Illinois State University. Retrieved on February 20, 2009.
26. Illinois General Assembly, retrieved November 16, 2012.
27. 'Wisconsin Bluebook 2007–2008,' Biographical Sketch of Kitty Rhoades, pg. 39
28. ""Dan Rutherford running for governor in 2014"". ABC News. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
29. "Jeremy Accardo". statistics and biographic information. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
30. "Dave Bergman". statistics and biographical information. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
31. "Dave Bergman". Hall of Fame profile. Illinois State University Athletics Department. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
32. Cathy Boswell Profile, retrieved November 26, 2012.
33. "Lee Capra". Hall of Fame profile. Illinois State University Athletics Department. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
34. "Aveion Cason". statistics and biographical information. National Football League. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
35. "Doug Collins". statistics & biographical information. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
36. "Doug Collins". Hall of Fame profile. Illinois State University Athletics Department. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
37. Ziehm, Len (February 21, 2001), "Overcoming all obstacles Illinois State standout Bryson making a name for himself", Chicago Sun-Times, Doug Collins put Illinois State on the college basketball map, piling up points for the Redbirds in the early 1970s before going on to success as a player, coach and commentator in the NBA. Since 1973, Collins has reigned as ISU's career scoring leader with 2,240 points. But Tarise Bryson is taking dead aim on that mark, and Collins has noticed.
38. "Neal Cotts". statistics and biographical information. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
39. Goldberg, Matt (March 17, 2004). "ISU's Cotts tries to make White Sox". University Wire report. The Daily Vidette. Retrieved December 26, 2009. If former Illinois State baseball player Neal Cotts never ended up injuring his leg his junior year in high school, he might have never made it to where he is today. Today he is on the Chicago White Sox 40-man roster and hopes to make the final roster when they cut the team to 25-players in the next few days.
40. "Luke Drone". CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
41. "Eric Eckenstahler Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
42. Edwards Signs with Atlanta Falcons, retrieved November 26, 2012.
43. "Steve Fisher". biographic sketch. San Diego State University Athletics Department. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
44. Willhite, Lindsey (March 12, 2002), "Fisher returns to his Illinois roots this week", Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL, USA), retrieved December 26, 2009, For a "Michigan man," as Bo Schembechler so famously described Steve Fisher when handing him the Wolverines' team prior to the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Fisher sure seems like an Illinois guy. He grew up in Herrin, prime coal-mining country in the southern part of the state. He attended Illinois State University and played three years of varsity ball there in the mid-1960s.
45. "Kevin Glenn". statistics and biographic information. Canadian Football League. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
46. Zelkovich, Chris (November 13, 2009), "Ticats' Glenn: From stardom to scrap heap and back: Quarterback stays positive during journey", The Toronto Star, retrieved December 26, 2009, In 2007, Glenn was the East nominee for the CFL's most outstanding player award. His Winnipeg Blue Bombers were in the division final. ... Turning negatives into positives is something Glenn's been doing all his life. When he was a kid, he was told he was too small to play QB. When he went to high school, he heard it again. And again at Illinois State, where 5-foot-10 quarterbacks weren't considered top NCAA material.
47. Woods, Linda (June 30, 2009), "Boomer Grigsby happy to visit his hometown, eager to help kids", The Daily Ledger (Canton, IL, USA); GateHouse News Service, retrieved December 26, 2009, Grigsby, 27, has played in the National Football League with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Miami Dolphins, and this season will join the Houston Texans. Grigsby started his football career at Canton High School and then played football for Illinois State University before playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.
48. "Boomer Grigsby". statistics and biographic information. National Football League. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
49. "Brent Hawkins". statistics and biographical information. National Football League. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
50. Pinkham, Paul (January 15, 2008), "Jaguars player arrested for DUI: Police say DE Hawkins was speeding and appeared intoxicated", The Florida Times-Union, retrieved December 26, 2009, The report says Hawkins, 24, told officers he had three vodka and orange juice drinks and said he had a previous driving under the influence case in Illinois, where he attended Illinois State University before being drafted by the Jaguars in 2006 in the fifth round.
51. "Matt Herges". statistics and biographical information. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
52. Brandon Joyce Profile, retrieved November 26, 2012.
53. "Great Moments in Redbird Baseball History". goredbirds.com. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
54. "History and Records". grfx.cstv.com. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
55. McFadden, Adam (May 8, 2009). "Broxton soars in closer rankings". SI.com. Retrieved December 26, 2009. Dan Kolb has always been a captivating case for me. The Illinois State graduate didn't distinguish himself much in his first four seasons in the majors. Then he got the opportunity to close for the Milwaukee Brewers halfway through 2003. After some success, he entered 2004 as the Brewers' closer
56. "Danny Kolb". statistics and biographical information. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
57. Charlotte Lewis, former ISU women’s basketball star, dies , retrieved November 26, 2012.
58. "Jim Meyer". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
59. Mississippi State University Bulldogs Head Coach, retrieved November 26, 2012.
60. Illinois State University NFL Draft Results, retrieved November 26, 2012.
61. "Tom Nelson". statistics and biographic sketch. Cincinnati Bengals. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
62. "Mike Prior". Hall of Fame profile. Illinois State University Athletics Department. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
63. Kuchta, Chris (December 14, 2009), "Marian Catholic's Greatest Athlete: Mike Prior", Southtown Star (Tinley Park, IL, USA), retrieved December 26, 2009, After a dominant prep run, the 6-foot, 200-pounder took his skills to Illinois State University and quickly became one of the biggest Redbirds on campus. Prior played four years of both football and baseball in Normal and still holds the Illinois State and Missouri Valley Conference record for career interceptions (24). He is also the Redbirds' career punt return yardage leader with 906 yards.
64. Lorene Ramsey Profile, retrieved November 26, 2012.
65. "Laurent Robinson". statistics and biographical information. National Football League. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
66. Reinhardt, Randy (November 23, 2009), "Injured Rams WR Robinson returns to ISU", The Daily Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL, USA), retrieved December 26, 2009, Traded to the "perfect situation," the 2009 season did not stay perfect very long for former Illinois State wide receiver Laurent Robinson.
67. "http://www.goredbirds.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/siskowic_cameron00.html". Redbird Football CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 3, 2013. External link in |title= (help)
68. "Kye Stewart Bio at Riderville.com". Saskatchewan Riders Football Club. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
69. "D. A. Weibring". statistics and biographic information. Professional Golf Association (PGA). Retrieved December 26, 2009.
70. "BOT Approves Naming of Golf Course for D. A. Weibring" (Press release). Illinois State University Media Relations. July 27, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2009. Illinois State University's Board of Trustees today approved the naming of the University golf course to the Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in recognition of Weibring's commitment and contribution to Redbird Athletics and his achievements as a Professional Golf Association (PGA) member.
71. "Donald Weibring". Hall of Fame profile. Illinois State University Athletics Department. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
72. "Tom Wieghaus". Hall of Fame profile. Illinois State University Athletics Department. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
73. "Tom Wieghaus". statistics and biographic information. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
74. Zoom Info, retrieved November 26, 2012.
75. Fresno State Athletic Profiles, retrieved November 26, 2012.
76. Ryan, Maureen (September 15, 2009), "Lafayette on 'True Blood': Chicago actor savors role: He plays cook on HBO vampire show", Chicago Tribune, retrieved December 26, 2009, And according to Nelsan Ellis, the Chicago native who plays Lafayette, that was just fine with the tart-tongued Merlotte's cook ... The actor, who was born in Harvey, spent much of his youth in Alabama and returned to the Chicago area at age 14 to attend Dolton's Thornridge High School. He later studied at Columbia College Chicago and Illinois State University and trained as an actor at New York's prestigious Juilliard School.
77. Carlo Lorenzo Garcia IMDb, retrieved November 20, 2012.
78. John D. LeMay IMDb, retrieved November 16, 2012.
79. Story 10 :: David McFadzean, retrieved November 16, 2012.
80. Nugent, Tom. "Office star Craig Robinson got Hollywood start at ISU," Illinois State University, Friday, May 10, 2013.