Western Carolina University - Notable Alumni

Notable Alumni

• Gerald Austin – NFL referee
• James A. Beaty, Jr. – current U.S. District Judge and former nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Dean Biasucci – Athlete, actor; former placekicker, Indianapolis Colts (NFL)
• Andrew C. Brock – North Carolina State Senator
• Jared Burton - professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball
• Kevin Cassels and Tommy Dennison – Musicians with the rock band Mother Vinegar
• Joe Firstman – musician, former musical director for Carson Daly's house band on Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC
• Ernest A. Fitzgerald (1947) – a Bishop of the United Methodist Church
• Judy Green – head volleyball coach for the University of Alabama
• Mel Gibson – former basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers
• Rich Hall- comedian, former cast member on Saturday Night Live
• Jarvis Hayes – Current NBA player for the New Jersey Nets, later transferred to the University of Georgia after a year
• Greg_Holland_(baseball)- pitcher, Kansas City Royals
• Brad Hoover – former Fullback for the Carolina Panthers (NFL).
• Frank Huguelet – Retired professional wrestler who wrestled under the name "'Heavy Metal' Ric Savage.'"
• Paul Johnson – Class of 1974 – Head football coach at Georgia Tech, Johnson received one of the coaching profession’s most prestigious honors the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award in 2004.
• Tony Jones – (football) Started Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII with the Denver Broncos
• Andrew Jordan – In the NFL for eight seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Keith LeClair – Both an athlete and coach at Western Carolina University (Player-1985-88 & Coach-1992-97)
• Henry Logan – Athlete, in 1964 became North Carolina’s first African-American collegiate athlete, and the first to play basketball for a “white” public institution in 1964
• Ralph Lundy – Men's soccer coach at the College of Charleston. He ranks fifth in victories among Division I coaches.
• Kevin Martin – Shooting Guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was drafted No. 26 in the 2004 NBA Draft by Sacramento and is currently 7th in the NBA in scoring and leads the NBA in Free Throws MADE PER GAME and Free Throw ATTEMPTS PER GAME as of March 30, 2009. (NBA)
• Manteo Mitchell – 2012 World Indoor Champion in Men's 4×400 m Relay, participant in the 2012 London Olympic games for Track and Field, won Silver medal after helping Team USA advance to finals
• Nick McNeil – WWE professional wrestler. McNeill wrestles under the ring name '"Showtime!' Percy Watson". He appears on WWE NXT. He previously played football in the NFL and was a former WCU football all-conference defensive end.
• David Patten – NFL wide receiver, three-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Currently with the Cleveland Browns
• Dave Pember – former pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers
• Rachel Reilly- Contestant on the reality television show "Big Brother" in season 12 and winner of "Big Brother" season 13; contestant on season 20 of the reality television show "The Amazing Race."
• David Sedaris – author, humorist
• Geno Segers – Actor. Former WCU football standout. Played rugby league for American National Rugby League and professionally for Richmond Rovers in New Zealand. Performed as Mufasa in the Australian production of The Lion King. Currently seen on Disney Channel's Pair of Kings.
• Clyde Simmons – Defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles
• Matt Stillwell – Nashville Recording Artist
• John Taylor, star of the reality television series Too Fat for 15 on the Style Network
• Wayne Tolleson – Athlete; former Major League Baseball player.
• Tony White- President/CEO, Applera Corporation
• Willie Williams – NFL Defensive Back for Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks