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 (USGS), 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)

NFL

 * Blaine Bishop, former NFL player, Tennessee Titans
 * Robert Brewster, NFL player (OT), 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 (P), Tennessee Titans
 * Ed Konopasek, former NFL player (OT), Green Bay Packers
 * Brad Maynard, NFL player (punter), Chicago Bears
 * Keith McKenzie, former NFL player (DE), Green Bay Packers
 * Bernie Parmalee, former NFL player, Miami Dolphins; current running backs coach for the NFL Oakland Raiders
 * Danny Pinter, NFL player (center), Indianapolis Colts
 * Dante Ridgeway, NFL player (wide receiver), New York Jets
 * Terry Schmidt, former NFL player, NO Saints, Chicago Bears
 * Willie Snead, wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens
 * Shafer Suggs, former NFL player, NY Jets

NBA

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

MLB

 * 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
 * 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