List of East Carolina University alumni

This list of East Carolina University alumni includes graduates, non-graduate former students and current students of East Carolina University. East Carolina alumni are generally known as Pirates.

The Class of 1914 of then-East Carolina Teacher Training School, with 38 graduates

The first class of 123 students entered ECTTS in 1909,[1] and the first 16 graduates received their degrees in 1911.[2] Since then, the institute has greatly expanded, with an enrollment of 17,728 undergraduates and 5,436 postgraduate students as of Spring 2007.[3]

Business

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Name Class year Notability References
John A. Allison IV 1995 former chairman and chief executive officer, BB&T [4]
Marc Basnight 1996 N.C. State Senator; President Pro Tem; restaurant owner [5]
Mark Kemp 1983 former editor of Discover Magazine; former Vice President of Programming for MTV; author [6][7]
Kelly King 1970 CEO of BB&T [8]
James Maynard 1965 founder of Golden Corral restaurant [9]
Linda McMahon 1969 former chief executive officer of WWE, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (designate) [10]
Vince McMahon 1968 chairman and CEO of WWE [11]
 
Vince McMahon

Athletics

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Administration

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Name Class year Notability References
Hal Baird 1971 former head baseball coach, Auburn Tigers [12]
Erik Bakich 2000 head baseball coach, University of Michigan [13]
Billy Godwin 1995 former head baseball coach, East Carolina Pirates [14]
George Koonce 1999, 2006 Director of Athletics, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee [15]
Ruffin McNeill 1980 former head coach, East Carolina Pirates, current assistant head coach and defensive tackles coach at the University of Oklahoma [16]
Dave Odom 1969 former head basketball coach, South Carolina Gamecocks, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and East Carolina Pirates [17]
Jamie Reed 1982 head athletic trainer, Texas Rangers [18]
Mike Sutton 1978 former head men's basketball coach, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles [19]
Kay Yow 1964 former women's basketball program head coach, NC State Wolfpack [20]
 
Ruffin McNeill
 
Kay Yow
 
Dave Odom

American football

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Athletes

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Name Class year Position Notability Reference(s)
Reggie Branch 1984 Running back NFL player [21]
Mic'hael Brooks 2013 Defensive tackle NFL player, CFL All-Star [22]
DeVone Claybrooks 2001 Defensive tackle NFL player, CFL All-Star [23]
Terrance Copper 2004 Wide receiver NFL player [24]
Marcus Crandell 1997 Quarterback NFL player [25]
Damane Duckett 2004 Defensive lineman NFL player [26]
David Garrard 2001 Quarterback NFL player, Pro Bowl selection [27]
Dan Gonzalez 1998 Quarterback CFL player [28]
John Jett 1993 Punter NFL player [29]
George Koonce 1992 Linebacker NFL player [30]
Vonta Leach 2004 Fullback NFL player, 3x All-Pro, 3x Pro Bowl selection [31]
Dwayne Ledford 1998 Offensive lineman NFL player [32]
Vinson Smith 1988 Linebacker NFL player [33]
Keith Stokes 2001 Wide receiver NFL player, 2x CFL All-Star [34]

American soccer

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Name Class year Notability References
Clyde Simms 2003 Major League Soccer D.C. United player, 2005–2013 [35]
 
Clyde Simms

Baseball

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Name Class year Notability References
Butch Davis 1980 MLB outfielder 1983–1994 [36]
Mike Hartley 1981 MLB pitcher 1984–1995 [37]
Jerry Narron MLB player 1979–1987, manager, and coach [38]
Johnny Narron MLB coach [39]
Sam Narron 2002 MLB player 2004 [40]
Chad Tracy 2001 MLB player 2004–2013 [41]
Pat Watkins 1993 MLB outfielder 1997–1999 [42]
 
Jerry Narron
 
Chad Tracy

Basketball

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Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
Blue Edwards 1989 former NBA, Utah Jazz forward [43]
Maurice Kemp basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Jonathan Kerner 1997 former NBA, New Jersey Nets center [44]
Oliver Mack 1979 former NBA, Los Angeles Lakers guard [45]
Bob McKillop 1969 (did not graduate) former NBA, Philadelphia 76ers; Davidson Wildcats head coach [46]

Olympics

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Name Class year Notability References
Héctor Cotto 2008, 2012 27th, 42nd in 110 m hurdles [47]
Charles Futrell 1942 World champion, Olympic distance triathlon [48]
Lex Gillette 2007 silver – 2008 Summer Paralympicsmen's long jump – F11; silver – 2004 Summer Paralympics – men's long jump – F11 [49]
LaShawn Merritt 2005 gold – 2007 Osaka – 4x400 m relay; silver – 2007 Osaka – 400 m; gold2008 Beijing400 m; gold – 2008 Beijing – 4x400 m relay; gold – 2009 Berlin400 m; gold – 2009 Berlin – 4x400m relay [50]
 
LaShawn Merritt

NASCAR

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Name Class year Notability References
Jeff Hammond 1970 former NASCAR crew chief; current Fox Sports NASCAR commentator; former football player [51]
 
Jeff Hammond

Humanities

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Arts and entertainment

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Name Class year Notability References
Scott Avett 1999 musician, The Avett Brothers [52]
Sandra Bullock 1986 actress, producer [53]
Constance Bumgarner Gee scholar, advocate of medical use of cannabis [54]
Carter Cruise 2013 DJ, producer, model, and pornographic actress [54]
Kristen Dalton 2010 Miss Universe 2009 (Top 10); Miss USA 2009; Miss North Carolina USA 2009 [53]
Manita Devkota 2017 Miss Universe 2018 (Top 10); Miss Nepal 2018; [53]
Nia Franklin 2011 Miss America 2019; Miss New York 2018 [55][56]
Beth Grant 1971 actress [57]
Loonis McGlohon 1942 composer, producer, arranger; Peabody Award winner, Grammy-nominated [58]
Maureen O'Boyle n/a news anchor [59]
Mary-Jean O'Doherty 2005 opera singer [60]
Emily Procter 1991 actress [61]
Dana Reason 2002 Miss North Carolina 2003 [62]
Nina Repeta 1999 actress [63]
Sonny Siaki 1998 former NFL inside linebacker; Samoan professional wrestler [64]
Kevin Williamson 1987 writer, producer, director, actor [65]
 
Sandra Bullock
 
Kristen Dalton
 
Emily Procter

Authors

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Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
Marshall Moore 1992 author [66]
Luke Whisnant 1979 author [67]

Emmy Award winners

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Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
John Beard 1980 Fox News anchor in Los Angeles, Emmy Award winner [68]
Velton Ray Bunch 1971 composer, arranger, Emmy Award winner [69]

Politics

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Name Class year Notability References
Larry M. Bell EdS 1983 Democratic Whip, North Carolina House of Representatives [70]
Harry Blevins B.S. Senator, Virginia Senate [71]
Don Davis M.A., Ed.D. Senator, North Carolina Senate; Mayor, Snow Hill [72]
Jean Farmer-Butterfield Bachelors Majority Whip, North Carolina House of Representatives [73]
Marvin W. Lucas EdS Representative, North Carolina House of Representatives [72]
Marian McLawhorn B.S., B.A. 1967;
M.L.S. 1988
Representative, North Carolina House of Representatives [74]
Robert Burren Morgan 1947 U.S. Senator, North Carolina Attorney General [75]
Jean Rouse Preston B.S. 1957,
MEd 1973
Senator, North Carolina Senate [76]
Paul Stam Attended, 1969–1970 Minority Leader, North Carolina House of Representatives [77]
Bonner Lee Stiller B.S. 1978 Representative, North Carolina House of Representatives [78]
Edith D. Warren B.S. 1960
M.A. 1974
Representative, North Carolina House of Representatives [79]
James A. Upchurch B.S. 2015 County Commissioner, Guilford County Board of Commissioners
Beth Wood 1984 Auditor of North Carolina [80]
Douglas Yongue B.S. 1959,
M.A. 1960
Representative, North Carolina House of Representatives [81]
 
Robert Morgan

Public service

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Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
Ron Clark (teacher) 1994 author, Disney's 2005 Teacher of the Year [82]
William C. Harrison 1980 M.A. chairman and CEO of the North Carolina State Board of Education [83][84]

Military service

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Name Class year Notability References
Dwight D. Badgett 2008 Command Chief Master Sergeant for Air Force Reserve Command [85]
Nate Bell 1977, current brigadier general; Assistant Adjutant General
James A. Brunson 1980 brigadier general; Joint Force Headquarters, Deputy Commander, Michigan Army National Guard [86]
Hugh C. Cameron 1972 retired brigadier general; Vice Commander, 9th Air Force; Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command Air Forces [87]
Catherine A. Chilton 1981 brigadier general; Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base [88]
Jeffrey Clark 1984, current brigadier general; director, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
George R. Farfour 1970 colonel; Chief of Staff, Air Force Global Strike Command [89]
William M. Faulkner 1982 brigadier general; commanding general, 3rd Marine Logistics Group [90]
Brian W. Flynn 1970 retired rear admiral and Assistant Surgeon General [91]
William L. Holland 1975 major general; commander, 9th Air Force, Air Combat Command [92]
Gary L. North 1976 general; commander, Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S. Pacific Command; and Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff [93]
Gary H. Wilfong 1971, 1977 brigadier general; Assistant Adjutant General; Commander of the North Carolina Air National Guard [94]

Pulitzer Prize winners

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Name Class year Notability References
Rick Atkinson 1974 Pulitzer Prize winner – History, 2003, An Army at Dawn; Public Service, 1999; National Reporting, 1982 [95]
Dan Neil 1982 Pulitzer Prize winner – Distinguished Criticism, 2004 [96]
Margaret O'Connor 1970 Pulitzer Prize winner – Breaking News Photography, 2002; Feature Photography, 2002
Sandra Mims Rowe 1970 Pulitzer Prize winner – Editorial Writing, 2006; Feature Writing, 2001 and 2002; Gold Medal for Public Service, 2001; Explanatory Reporting, 1999; New Reporting, 1985
 
Rick Atkinson

References

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