List of University of Missouri alumni

This is a list of notable alumni of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.

Academia

 * Thomas Swain Barclay (BA 2015, ΒΘΠ), professor of political science at Stanford University
 * George E. Bates (B.A., M.A.), professor of Investment Management at the Harvard Business School; editor of the Harvard Business Review
 * Thomas Curtright (B.S. 1970, M.S. 1970), professor of Physics at University of Miami
 * Walter Dandy (B.S. 1907), professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; considered a founding father of modern neurosurgery.
 * Clifton C. Edom (BJ 1946), Mizzou photojournalism professor and co-founder of Pictures of the Year, Missouri Photo Workshop, and Kappa Alpha Mu
 * Robert P. Foster (M.A., Ph.D.), president of Northwest Missouri State University (1964–1977)
 * Robert J. Jones (PhD 1978), chancellor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and former president at the University of Albany
 * Matthew Kroenig (BA), associate professor of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown University
 * Uel W. Lamkin (attended), president of Northwest Missouri State University (1921–1945)
 * Anderson Delano Macklin (1933–2001), visual artist, professor, art historian
 * John C. McManus (PhD), military historian, author, and professor of military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology
 * Susan Morey (BS 1990), professor and chair of the Mathematics department at Texas State University
 * Francis Joseph Mullin, president of Shimer College
 * Velma McBride Murry, psychologist and sociologist at Vanderbilt University
 * Donald E. Pease (BA 1968, MA 1969), professor of English and Comparative Literature at Dartmouth College
 * Mark Pope (AB 1973, MEd 1974), Thomas Jefferson professor & Curators' Distinguished professor Emeritus of counseling at University of Missouri-St. Louis, president of the American Counseling Association (2003–2004)
 * Henry P. Rusk (BS 1908, MA 1911), dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois
 * Ritch Savin-Williams (BA 1971), professor of developmental psychology at Cornell University; prolific sexual orientation researcher
 * Mohammad Shahidehpour, Carl Bodine Distinguished professor and chairman in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Illinois Institute of Technology
 * Mason Vaugh (BS 1919, B.Eng 1921), founder and Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering in Allahabad Agricultural Institute
 * Lawrence Walkup (MA 1942, PhD 1948), president of Northern Arizona University
 * Todd Whitaker (BS 1981, M.Ed. 1985, PhD 1992), professor of Educational Leadership, Indiana State University

Art

 * Betty Scarpino, wood sculptor
 * Albert Schweitzer, cartoonist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 * Brendan Smialowski, photographer and photojournalist
 * Mort Walker (BA 1948, ΚΣ), cartoonist; a life-sized bronze statue of his creation Beetle Bailey sits in front of alumni center

Business

 * Andrew Cherng (MS 1972), founder of Panda Express and chairman of Panda Restaurant Group
 * Alan C. Greenberg (BS BA 1949, ZBT), chairman, Bear Stearns Companies
 * Edward D. "Ted" Jones (1947), managing partner of Edward Jones Investments
 * R. Crosby Kemper (AB 1914, ΒΘΠ), former President and chairman, United Missouri Bancshares
 * R. Crosby Kemper, Jr. (AB 1949, ΒΘΠ), former President and chairman, United Missouri Bancshares
 * Richard Kinder (BA 1966, JD 1968, ΣΝ, QEBH), chairman and CEO of Kinder Morgan; former President of Enron; net worth of $10.2 billion; #39 on 2013 Forbes 400 list of richest Americans
 * E. Stanley Kroenke (BS BA 1971, MBA 1973), chairman of THF Realty; owner of NBA's Denver Nuggets and NHL's Colorado Avalanche; co-owner of NFL's Los Angeles Rams; majority shareholder Arsenal FC; net worth of $3.5 billion, tied for #105 on 2008 Forbes 400 list of richest Americans
 * Kenneth Lay (BA 1964, MA 1965, ΒΘΠ, ΟΔΚ, ΦΒΚ), former CEO of Enron
 * Harry J. Lloyd (BJ 1950, TKE), founder of House of Lloyd and the upscale Loch Lloyd village and country club near Kansas City
 * David C. Novak (BJ 1974, ΔΥ), chairman, CEO, and President, Yum! Brands, Inc.
 * Rodger O. Riney (BS CiE 1968, MBA 1969, XE), founder of a brokerage firm
 * Matthew K. Rose (BS BA 1981, ΛΧΑ), chairman, CEO, and President, Burlington Northern Santa Fe
 * Roger Straus (1917–2004), co-founder and chairman of Farrar, Straus and Giroux
 * Samuel M. Walton (BA 1940, ΒΘΠ, QEBH), founder of Walmart

Entertainment and television

 * John Anderson (BJ 1987), ESPN SportsCenter host
 * Tom Berenger, actor, Major League, The Big Chill, Platoon
 * Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, writer and television producer
 * Neal E. Boyd (BA 2001), opera singer; winner ofAmerica's Got Talent in 2008
 * Brent Briscoe MU 1984, actor
 * Kate Capshaw (BS 1975, MEd 1977, ΑΔΠ), actress, Willie Scott in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
 * Jann Carl (BJ 1982, ΚΚΓ), television personality, Entertainment Tonight
 * Papa Joe Chevalier, host of nationally syndicated Papa Joe Show on the Sporting News Radio Network until 2005
 * Sophia Choi, television anchor at CNN Headline News
 * Chris Cooper (BGS 1976), Academy Award-winning actor, Adaptation
 * Candice Crawford (BJ 2009, ΠΒΦ), Miss Missouri and Miss USA finalist; reporter for KDAF-TV
 * Sheryl Crow (BS Ed 1984, ΚΑΘ, ΟΔΚ, SAI), musician, singer-songwriter
 * Kelly Crull, sports anchor and reporter, Fox Sports South
 * Hope Driskill (BA 2012, ΧΩ), Survivor: Caramoan, Miss Missouri USA 2011 and Miss USA Top 16 finalist
 * Dave Fogel (ΣΧ), radio disc jockey
 * Martin Frost (BJ 1964, ZBT), political commentator, Fox News Channel
 * Major Garrett (BJ 1984), national correspondent, Fox News Channel
 * Heidi Gardner (never graduated), actress, Saturday Night Live
 * Mike Hall, first winner of ESPN Dream Job series
 * Jon Hamm (BA 1993), actor, Don Draper of AMC's Mad Men
 * Tom Hart, play-by-play commentator for SEC Network and ESPN
 * Sarah Hollins (BA 2013), Miss Nebraska USA 2016, TV personality
 * Robert Horner (BJ 1970), president of NBC News Channel
 * Juliet Huddy, Fox News Channel host
 * Jeffrey Crawford Jones, radio host
 * Michael Kim, ESPNEWS host
 * David Koechner, actor, Todd Packer of The Office, Champ Kind of Anchorman
 * Jim Lehrer (ΣΔΧ award), PBS news anchor
 * David Limbaugh (BA 1975, JD 1978), political commentator and author
 * Robert Loggia (BJ 1951 ΑΣΦ), actor, Jagged Edge, Big, Scarface, The Sopranos
 * Robin Luke (PhD Business Administration and Marketing), a 1950s pop music singer known for the 1958 hit "Susie Darlin"; professor and department head, Marketing Department, Missouri State University
 * Andrea Mackris, Fox News television producer
 * Richard Matheson (BJ 1949, ΦΜΑ), screenwriter, author of I Am Legend, The Shrinking Man, What Dreams May Come
 * Joel Meyers, sportscaster
 * Greg Miller (BJ 2005), IGN cast member, host of Up at Noon, co-founder of Kinda Funny
 * Russ Mitchell (BJ 1982), weekend anchor, CBS Evening News
 * Jonathan Murray (BJ 1977), executive producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World
 * Lisa Myers (BJ 1973), television journalist, former senior investigative correspondent, NBC News
 * Brad Pitt (ΣΧ, Journalism School, remains one credit short of graduation), actor and producer
 * Elle Reeve (BJ 2005), correspondent for Vice News
 * Chuck Roberts (BJ 1971), CNN news anchor
 * SallyAnn Salsano, producer and creator of reality television shows for MTV including Jersey Shore
 * Ed Sanders (dropout 1958), lead singer of the Fugs, social activist, author
 * George C. Scott, Academy Award-winning actor, Patton, Dr. Strangelove, The Hustler, Anatomy of a Murder
 * Jon Scott, Fox News Channel anchor
 * Brad Sham (BJ 1970, ΑΕΠ), Dallas Cowboys Radio Network host
 * Beatriz Sheridan, Mexican telenovela producer/director noted for Televisa
 * Bob Sullivan, author and founding member of MSNBC
 * Wright Thompson, ESPN senior writer
 * Debbye Turner (DVM 1991), Miss America
 * Elizabeth Vargas (BJ 1984), former ABC News anchor/correspondent and 20/20 co-anchor
 * Matt Winer (BJ 1991, ΠΚΑ), ESPN SportsCenter host
 * Ying Da, actor and director
 * Nick Young, CBS radio news anchor
 * Nick Young, CBS radio news anchor

Law

 * John R. Gibson (BA 1949, JD 1952, TKE, QEBH, ΟΔΚ, ΦΒΚ), Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
 * Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. (1951 ΒΘΠ), U.S. Federal District Court judge; former president of the Missouri Bar Association
 * Kimbrough Stone (1895, ΒΘΠ), judge of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
 * Robert Barr Todd, Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
 * Kathleen Zellner, attorney



Literature and journalism

 * Lori Borgman, nationally distributed columnist, author and speaker
 * Gerald M. Boyd, former Managing Editor of The New York Times
 * Russ Buettner, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times
 * Barney Calame (ΒΘΠ), Public Editor, New York Times
 * Hal Call, pioneering LGBT rights activist and gay publisher/pornographer
 * Jeffery Deaver (BJ 1972), author of the Lincoln Rhyme series
 * Lewis Diuguid (BJ 1977); author and journalist
 * Clarence Faulk (BJ c. 1931), publisher of Ruston Daily Leader and founder of radio station KRUS
 * Pat Forde, Yahoo Sports columnist
 * Jay Greenberg, sports journalist and winner of the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award
 * William Least Heat-Moon (BA 1961, MA 1962, PhD 1973, BJ 1978, ΤΚΕ), author
 * Rebecca Johns (BA 1993, BJ 1993), author
 * James J. Kilpatrick (BJ 1941), conservative columnist
 * Ah Jook Ku (1935), former Associated Press correspondent, first Asian American female reporter for Honolulu Star-Bulletin
 * Harris Merton Lyon, short-story writer
 * Marijane Meaker (BA 1949 ΑΔΠ), novelist
 * Thomas Franklin Fairfax Millard (ΒΘΠ), journalist and newspaper editor
 * Pamela Morsi, author
 * Suniti Namjoshi, writer
 * Ken Paulson, editor, USA Today
 * Marjorie Paxson, influential women's page editor
 * Doc Quigg, journalist for United Press International
 * Ben Robertson (1926), WW II war correspondent, New York Herald Tribune; author
 * James Rollins, aka James Czajkowski, author of bestselling Sigma Force series
 * Ram Subhag Singh, Indian politician, first Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
 * Edgar Snow (ΒΘΠ), main Western journalist in Mao's China
 * Lee Strobel (BJ 1974), journalist and author of The Case for Christ series
 * George Woodward Warder (BA circa 1866), poet and author
 * Lonnie Wheeler, sportswriter and author; worked for The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Cincinnati Post
 * John Edward Williams (PHD 1954), recipient of National Book Award, author of Stoner and Augustus
 * Tennessee Williams (ΑΤΩ), playwright, The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
 * Grace Steele Woodward, writer and historian

Military

 * Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash (1970), member of Regional Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region, chemical weapons expert
 * Marcus B. Bell, U.S. Army brigadier general
 * Gen. Fred F. Castle Jr. (1970 and 1977), Vietnam War and Gulf War
 * Major General Roger E. Combs (1968 and 1975), Assistant Adjutant General-Air Missouri National Guard, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), National Guard Bureau
 * Gen. Enoch Crowder (1886, ΒΘΠ), Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, World War I general
 * Lt General Mark A. Ediger (1978), Surgeon General of Air Force
 * Lieutenant General Charles D. Franklin (1953), commander of First United States Army from 1984 to 1987
 * Brigadeführer Gustav Lombard (1913), Nazi Waffen SS, held commands in first 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer and later 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division, awarded Knight's Cross of Iron Cross
 * Colonel Arthur D. Simons (1941), distinguished service in World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War; ranger patriarch; leader of Son Tay Raid
 * Rear Admiral Kelly E. Taggart (1955), second Director of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
 * Lieutenant Stephen W. Thompson, first person in US military history to shoot down an enemy aircraft
 * Colonel F. D. Wickham (1893, ΒΘΠ), Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, World War I; helped found Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity at Oklahoma A&M College

Politics and government

 * Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash (PHD 1983), Iraqi scientist and microbiologist; former member of Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council
 * Emily Newell Blair, writer, suffragist, national Democratic Party political leader, co-founder of the League of Women Voters, feminist
 * Russ Carnahan (BS 1979, JD 1983, KA), U.S. congressman
 * Paul Coverdell (ΦΚΨ), former U.S. senator (GA); died 2000
 * William S. Cowherd (1881, ΒΘΠ), mayor of Kansas City, Missouri 1892–1893 and U.S. Congressman from Missouri 1897–1905
 * William B. Cravens (1893, ΒΘΠ), former U.S. representative from Missouri
 * Thomas T. Crittenden Jr. (1882, ΒΘΠ), former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1908–1909
 * Elgin English Crull (1930, Kappa Sigma), longest serving city manager of Dallas, Texas to date (1952–1966); city manager when Kennedy was assassinated
 * Randy "Duke" Cunningham, former U.S. congressman from California who resigned in 2005 amid a massive bribery scandal
 * Gen. Donald Dawson (1932, ΒΘΠ), a former aide to President Truman, Curator of the Truman Presidential Library
 * Hon. Harsha de Silva (MA and PhD, 1993), Sri Lankan Member of Parliament
 * James H. Faulkner, Alabama politician, newspaper publisher, and business leader
 * Martin Frost (BJ 1964, ZBT), former U.S.congressman
 * Nicole Galloway (master's degree in business administration), State Auditor of Missouri
 * Jack Goodman (BA 1995, JD 1998), State senator, practicing attorney in Mount Vernon, MO
 * Sam Graves (BS 1986, ΑΓΣ), U.S. congressman
 * Bob F. Griffin (JD 1958), Speaker of Missouri House of Representatives for 15 years
 * Jason Grill, Missouri House of Representatives (2006–2010)
 * Chuck Gross (BA 1981, MPA 1982), Missouri State Senator
 * Kate Hanley, née Keith (BA 1965, BS 1965, ΦΒΚ), Virginia politician
 * Martin Heinrich (BS 1995), former U.S. congressman and current U.S. senator from New Mexico
 * Jay Houghton, Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives
 * Kenny Hulshof (BA 1980, Farmhouse, Mystical 7), former U.S. congressman
 * James P. Kem (1910, ΒΘΠ), United States Senate from Missouri, 1947 to 1953
 * Jason Klumb (JD 1993), Regional administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration
 * Rush Limbaugh Sr. (1914), Missouri House of Representatives, and patriarch of the Limbaugh family
 * Jon Lindgren, Mayor of Fargo, North Dakota, 1978–1994; pioneering LGBT supporter
 * Jerry Lon Litton (B.S. Journalism 1961, ΑΓΡ), U.S. representative from Missouri's 6th Congressional District (1972–1976); killed in a plane crash after winning the 1976 Democratic nomination for U.S. senator from Missouri; favored to be the Democratic nominee for President; host of the TV show Dialogue with Litton
 * Themba N. Masuku, acting Prime Minister of Eswatini
 * Claire McCaskill (AB 1975, JD 1978, ΚΑΘ, QEBH), former Missouri state auditor and former senior U.S. Senator from Missouri
 * Walter McCormick (BJ 1976; JD 1979; ΑΤΩ, ΟΔΚ, Mystical 7), President and CEO of United States Telecom Association; former general counsel of U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Senate Commerce Committee
 * Morgan McGarvey, U.S. Representative from Kentucky
 * James B. Potter Jr., Los Angeles City Council member, 1963–71
 * Clarke Reed, Mississippi state Republican chairman, 1966 to 1976; instrumental in the nomination of Gerald R. Ford, at the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City; Greenville, Mississippi businessman
 * Jody Richards, Kentucky House of Representatives and former speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives
 * Charles Griffith Ross, press secretary for President Harry S. Truman
 * Thomas L. Rubey (1885, ΒΘΠ), former U.S. representative from Missouri
 * Sally Shelton-Colby, Ambassador to Grenada and Barbados 1979–1981
 * Tom Shively, Missouri House of Representatives
 * Ram Subhag Singh, Indian politician and the first Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
 * Ike Skelton (AB 1953, JD 1956, ΣΧ, ΦΒΚ, QEBH), former U.S. congressman; former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
 * Brian Treece, Mayor of Columbia, Missouri
 * Carl M. Vogel, member of both houses of the Missouri State Legislature; from Jefferson City

Governors

 * James T. Blair Jr., Missouri governor 1957–61
 * Mel Carnahan, Missouri governor 1993–2000, only person elected U.S. senator posthumously
 * John M. Dalton (ΦΓΔ), Missouri governor 1961–65
 * Forrest C. Donnell (ΚΣ, ΦΔΦ, ΦΒΚ, ΘΚΝ, QEBH), Missouri governor 1945–51
 * Warren E. Hearnes (QEBH), Missouri governor 1965–73, namesake of Hearnes Center
 * William Jayne, first governor of Dakota Territory
 * Tim Kaine (QEBH), Governor of Virginia 2006–10, U.S. senator and 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee
 * Ted Kulongoski (undergraduate and law degrees), Governor of Oregon 2003–11
 * Jay Nixon, Missouri governor 2009–17
 * Guy B. Park (ΒΘΠ), Missouri governor 1933–37
 * Roger B. Wilson, Missouri governor 2000–01

Religion

 * Edward N. Peters (JD, 1982), Catholic canonist and blogger

Science and technology

 * Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash (Ph.D. 1983), WMD scientist for Saddam Hussein, one of 55 most wanted Iraqis post-Coalition invasion
 * William F. Baker (BS CiE '75), chief structural engineer of Burj Khalifa, world's tallest man-made structure
 * Gerald J. Fishman (BS 1965, ΑΕΠ), research astrophysicist specializing in gamma-ray astronomy
 * Linda Godwin (MS 1976, PhD 1980), NASA astronaut
 * Nancy E. Goeken (PhD 1972), immunologist
 * Susan Golden (Ph.D. 1983), National Academy of Sciences member and professor of Molecular Biology at University of California, San Diego
 * Charles Claude Guthrie (MD 1901), physiologist and researcher
 * Mary Jane Guthrie (BA 1916, MA 1918), zoologist and cancer researcher, also a University of Missouri faculty member
 * Ernest Lenard Hall (BS EE 1965, MS 1966, PhD 1971), roboticist
 * Hope Hibbard (undergraduate degree, 1916, MS 1918), biologist, cytologist, zoologist, and professor of zoology
 * Thomas Jefferson Jackson See (BS 1889, valedictorian), controversial astronomer; critic; opponent of Einstein
 * William Langston, founder and CEO of Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center in Sunnyvale, California
 * Richard N. Richards (BS ChE 1969, ΛΧΑ), NASA astronaut
 * Frederick Chapman Robbins (M.D. 1954), Nobel Prize recipient, with John Enders and Thomas Weller for the cultivation of human viruses (Polio) in tissue culture
 * Herschel Roman (PhD 1942), early pioneer in yeast genetics
 * William C. Schwartz (MA 1951), physicist, laser pioneer, and founder of International Laser Systems
 * Harlow Shapley (AB 1910, AM 1911), astronomer; used RR Lyrae stars to correctly estimate the size of the Milky Way Galaxy and the sun's position within it
 * Larry Smarr (BA 1970, MS 1970), physicist; founding director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications
 * William Jasper Spillman (B.S. 1886, M.S. 1890), wheat geneticist, founder, agricultural economics
 * Laura Sullivan-Beckers (PhD 2008), biologist
 * Raymond E. Zirkle (B.A.1928; Ph.D. 1932), radiobiologist and principle of the Manhattan Project

Baseball

 * Joe Bennett, MLB player
 * Phil Bradley (Mystical 7), former MLB player, also played football
 * Skip Caray, former broadcaster for Atlanta Braves; son of Harry Caray
 * Jeff Cornell, former MLB pitcher
 * Aaron Crow, MLB pitcher
 * John Dettmer, former MLB pitcher
 * David Freese, former MLB third baseman-first baseman, 2011 NLCS and World Series MVP and Babe Ruth Award winner for St. Louis Cardinals
 * Kyle Gibson, MLB All-Star pitcher for Philadelphia Phillies
 * Ian Kinsler, former All-Star MLB second baseman
 * Tim Laudner, former MLB catcher
 * Reggie McClain, MLB pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
 * Dave Otto, former MLB pitcher
 * Max Scherzer, MLB All-Star pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-time Cy Young Award winner (2013, 2016, 2017)
 * Jerry Schoonmaker, former MLB outfielder, also played football
 * Art Shamsky, former MLB outfielder and Israel Baseball League manager
 * Mike Shannon (attended), MLB infielder for St. Louis Cardinals, 2-time World Series champion and broadcaster
 * Sonny Siebert, former MLB pitcher, 2-time All-Star
 * Dave Silvestri, former MLB infielder
 * Gene Stephenson, former Wichita State University baseball head coach, also played football
 * Nick Tepesch, pitcher for Texas Rangers
 * Jayce Tingler, manager for San Diego Padres

Basketball

 * Jabari Brown, CBA player for Foshan Dralions
 * John Brown, former NBA player for Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls
 * DeMarre Carroll, former NBA player for San Antonio Spurs
 * Jordan Clarkson, current NBA player for Utah Jazz
 * Sophie Cunningham, current WNBA player for Phoenix Mercury and current WNBL player for Melbourne Boomers
 * Marcus Denmon, TBL player for Istanbul BB
 * Keyon Dooling, former NBA player for Boston Celtics
 * Larry Drew, former NBA player, former head coach for Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks
 * Al Eberhard, former NBA player for Detroit Pistons
 * Kim English, former NBA player
 * JaKeenan Gant, player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Thomas Gardner, former NBA player for Atlanta Hawks
 * Linas Kleiza, former NBA player
 * Gary Leonard, former NBA player
 * Anthony Peeler, former NBA player for Los Angeles Lakers
 * Michael Porter Jr., current NBA player for Denver Nuggets
 * Phil Pressey, former NBA player for Boston Celtics
 * Kareem Rush, former NBA player for Los Angeles Clippers
 * Doug Smith, former NBA player
 * Dru Smith, current NBA player for the Brooklyn Nets
 * Norm Stewart (BA 1956, ΒΘΠ, Mystical 7), All-American and former head coach at Northern Iowa (1961–67) and Mizzou (1967–99)
 * Steve Stipanovich, former NBA player
 * Tyler Stone (born 1991), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Jon Sundvold, former NBA player for San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat

Football

 * Bud Abell, former American Football League player for the Kansas City Chiefs
 * Danario Alexander, former NFL player for San Diego Chargers
 * Russ Ball, executive with Green Bay Packers
 * Gary Barnett (1969, ΒΘΠ), former head football coach at Northwestern and Colorado
 * Dwayne Blakley, former NFL tight end
 * Nick Bolton, NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs
 * Justin Britt, offensive lineman for Seattle Seahawks
 * Charlie Brown, NFL player for New Orleans Saints
 * Colin Brown, NFL player for Buffalo Bills
 * Lloyd Carr (ΚΣ), former head coach University of Michigan
 * Byron Chamberlain, former NFL player
 * Paul Christman (ΚΣ), College Football Hall of Famer, former NFL player and broadcaster
 * Chase Coffman, NFL player, John Mackey Award winner
 * DeMontie Cross, assistant coach with Wisconsin Badgers
 * Sean Culkin, NFL player
 * Chase Daniel, NFL player for Chicago Bears
 * Robert Delpino, former NFL player
 * Kony Ealy, defensive lineman for New York Jets
 * Brad Edelman, former NFL player
 * Atiyyah Ellison, NFL player for Kansas City Chiefs
 * Don Faurot (1924 Farmhouse, Mystical 7), MU coach and player
 * Ron Fellows, former NFL player
 * Will Franklin, former NFL player
 * Blaine Gabbert, NFL player for Arizona Cardinals
 * Andrew Gachkar, NFL player with San Diego Chargers
 * Justin Gage, former NFL player
 * E.J. Gaines, NFL player for Los Angeles Rams
 * Tony Galbreath, former NFL player
 * Markus Golden, NFL player for Arizona Cardinals
 * Mel Gray (Mystical 7), former NFL player
 * Dorial Green-Beckham, NFL player for Tennessee Titans
 * Ziggy Hood, NFL player for Jacksonville Jaguars
 * Harry Ice (ΒΘΠ), MVP of the 1942 Sugar Bowl, a longtime member of the athletic department
 * Brad Imes, football player; appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 2, retired professional mixed martial arts fighter
 * Jim Jennings, former NFL player
 * Mike Jones, former NFL player
 * Henry Josey, former NFL player
 * Jim Kekeris, former NFL player
 * Jim Leavitt, former head coach of University of South Florida
 * Leo Lewis, former NFL player
 * Drew Lock, NFL player for Denver Broncos
 * Rick Lyle, former NFL player
 * Bill McCartney, former head coach at University of Colorado
 * Jeremy Maclin, NFL player for Kansas City Chiefs
 * Henry Marshall, former NFL player
 * Steve Martin, former NFL player
 * John Matuszak, former NFL player for Oakland Raiders
 * Ron McBride, former NFL player
 * Erik McMillan, former NFL player
 * William Moore, NFL player for Atlanta Falcons
 * Mitch Morse, NFL player for Kansas City Chiefs
 * C. J. Mosley, NFL player for Cleveland Browns
 * Damien Nash, former NFL player
 * Brock Olivo, former NFL player
 * Gus Otto (ΒΘΠ), former NFL player
 * Francis Peay, former NFL player
 * Kurt Petersen, former NFL player
 * Johnnie Poe, former NFL player
 * Shane Ray, NFL player for Denver Broncos
 * Howard Richards (Kappa Alpha Psi), former NFL player, Dallas Cowboys
 * Johnny Roland (Kappa Alpha Psi), former NFL coach and player
 * Martin Rucker, NFL player for Philadelphia Eagles
 * Andy Russell, former NFL player
 * Jerome Sally, former NFL player
 * Michael Sam, former NFL player for St. Louis Rams, first openly gay player in NFL
 * George Seals, former NFL player
 * Aldon Smith, NFL player for San Francisco 49ers
 * Brad Smith, NFL player for Philadelphia Eagles
 * Justin Smith, NFL player for San Francisco 49ers
 * Otis Smith, former NFL player
 * Ray Smith, NFL player
 * David Smukler, NFL player
 * Hugh Sprinkle, NFL player
 * Stryker Sulak, NFL player for Green Bay Packers
 * Morris Towns, former NFL player
 * Bruce Van Dyke, former NFL player
 * L'Damian Washington, wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
 * Russ Washington, former NFL player
 * Sean Weatherspoon, NFL player for Atlanta Falcons
 * Roger Wehrli, seven-time Pro Bowl NFL player in Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Bill Whitaker, former NFL player
 * James Wilder Sr., former NFL player
 * Kellen Winslow, college and Pro Football Hall of Fame player
 * Eric Wright, former NFL player

Wrestling

 * Ben Askren, two-time NCAA wrestling champion (2006,2007); 2008 Olympian; retired MMA fighter; former Bellator Welterweight Champion
 * Evan Bourne, professional wrestler
 * Michael Chandler, 2009 NCAA Wrestling All-American (5th place, 157 lbs.), former Bellator Lightweight Champion
 * J'den Cox, three-time NCAA champion wrestler, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in 86 kg weight class
 * Sammie Henson, two-time NCAA wrestling champion; 1998 world freestyle champion; 2000 Olympic silver medalist; 2006 world bronze medalist at age 36
 * J. P. Reese, two-time NCAA wrestling championships qualifier (2002 and 2003); MMA fighter
 * Gene Snitsky, professional wrestler
 * Mike Whitehead (attended), three-time All-American wrestler; MMA fighter
 * Tyron Woodley, two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler; mixed martial artist in welterweight division, champion for Ultimate Fighting Championship

Other sports

 * Dick Ault, Olympic hurdler
 * Christian Cantwell, shot putter, 2004 IAAF World Indoor Champion, 2008 Olympic silver medalist, 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Champion
 * Carl Edwards, NASCAR driver and 2007 Busch Series champion (attended but did not graduate)
 * Ross Miner (born 1991), skating coach and retired competitive figure skater
 * Derrick Peterson (ΑΚΛ), professional runner, 2004 Olympian
 * Karissa Schweizer, runner, seven-time NCAA National Champion
 * Chelsea Thomas, softball player, SEC Pitcher of the Year

Other

 * Thomas Doty, Continental Airlines Flight 11 suicide bomber