Notable Alumni of University of Louisville

Mitch McConnell 1942–

Republican U.S. senator from Kentucky

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1964

Also attended: University of Kentucky

Spouse: Elaine Chao (Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Gina Haspel 1956–

Seventh Director of the CIA

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1978

Also attended: University of Kentucky, Northeastern University

Chris Dodd 1944–

Former U.S. senator from Connecticut

Juris Doctor · Class of 1972

Also attended: Providence College

Father: Thomas J. Dodd (Yale University, Saint Anselm College)

John A. Logan 1826–1886

Union Army general and politician

Attended until 1851

James B. Edwards 1927–2014

Governor of South Carolina

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania, College of Charleston

Lawrence Wetherby 1908–1994

48th governor of Kentucky

Richard J. Oglesby 1824–1899

Governor of Illinois and US senator

Marlow Cook 1926–2016

U.S. Senator from Kentucky

Louie B. Nunn 1924–2004

52nd Governor of Kentucky

Also attended: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Fabian Ver 1920–1998

Filipino general under President Marcos

Thomas Lee Judge 1934–2006

18th Governor of Montana

Attended until 1960

Also attended: University of Notre Dame

Spouse: Carol Judge (Montana State University)

Henry D. Hatfield 1875–1962

14th Governor of West Virginia and US senator

Also attended: New York University

Richard F. Natonski 2000–

Retired US Marine Corps lieutenant general

Norman Jay Colman 1827–1911

First United States Secretary of Agriculture

Daniel Cameron 1985–

Former Attorney General of Kentucky

Romano L. Mazzoli 1932–2022

Kentucky congressman and lawyer

Also attended: University of Notre Dame, Harvard University

William J. Deboe 1849–1927

US Senator from Kentucky, 1897 to 1903

Michael C. Kerr 1827–1876

First Democratic Speaker of the House after Civil War

William Campbell Preston Breckinridge 1837–1904

U.S. representative from Kentucky, 1885–1895

Also attended: Centre College

Father: Robert Jefferson Breckinridge (Union College)

Child: Sophonisba Breckinridge (University of Chicago, Wellesley College)

Ward Hill Lamon 1828–1893

Lawyer, friend and self-appointed bodyguard of Abraham Lincoln

Simon Flexner 1863–1946

First director of the Rockefeller Institute

Sibling: Abraham Flexner (Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University)

Henry Turner 1892–1970

Endocrinologist who described Turner syndrome

Ray Birdwhistell 1918–1994

Anthropologist who founded kinesics

Also attended: University of Chicago, Miami University-Oxford, Ohio State University-Main Campus

David Allan Young 1915–1991

Entomologist specializing in Cicadellidae taxonomy

Chang-Lin Tien 1935–2002

Former chancellor of UC Berkeley

Also attended: Princeton University

Sue Grafton 1940–2017

Detective novelist, author of the alphabet series

Also attended: Western Kentucky University

Father: Cornelius Warren Grafton (Presbyterian College)

Warren Oates 1928–1982

Actor known for Western and crime films

Diane Sawyer 1945–

ABC News anchor of Good Morning America

Also attended: Wellesley College

Spouse: Mike Nichols (University of Chicago)

Maggie Lawson 1980–

Actress known for Psych

Spouse: Benjamin Koldyke (Dartmouth College)

Terry Bisson 1942–2024

Science fiction author, Hugo and Nebula winner

Attended until 1964

Marsha Norman 1947–

Playwright, 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner

Also attended: Agnes Scott College

Static Major 1974–2008

Singer, record producer and songwriter

Matt Battaglia 1965–

Actor, producer and former NFL linebacker

Delfeayo Marsalis 1965–

Jazz trombonist, record producer and educator

Also attended: Berklee College of Music

Father: Ellis Marsalis Jr. (Dillard University, Loyola University New Orleans)

Sibling: Wynton Marsalis (The Juilliard School)

Johnny Unitas 1933–2002

NFL quarterback, mainly with the Baltimore Colts

Donovan Mitchell 1996–

NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Wes Unseld 1946–2020

NBA player, coach and executive

Child: Wes Unseld Jr. (Johns Hopkins University)

Gorgui Dieng 1990–

Senegalese former professional basketball player

Aaron Clapham 1987–

New Zealand footballer and coach

Also attended: Saint Francis University

Lamar Jackson 1997–

Quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens

Angel McCoughtry 1986–

Former WNBA player and two-time Olympic gold medalist

Montrezl Harrell 1994–

Basketball player, 2015 Karl Malone Award winner

Earl Clark 1988–

Basketball player, 14th pick in the 2009 NBA draft

Terry Rozier 1994–

NBA player formerly with the Boston Celtics

Junior Bridgeman 1953–2025

Former NBA player and businessman

Francisco García 1980–

Dominican former NBA player

Pervis Ellison 1967–

Former NBA player, first pick in 1989 draft

Child: Malik Ellison (St John's University (NY))

Jordan Nwora 1998–

Nigerian-American professional basketball player

Kathellen Sousa 1996–

Brazilian footballer and national team player

Also attended: University of Central Florida

Kelsi Dahlia 1994–

Swimmer and 2016 Olympic medley relay champion

Samaki Walker 1976–

Former NBA forward, 1996 draft pick of the Mavericks

Child: Jabari Walker (University of Colorado Boulder)

Rodney McCray 1961–

Former NBA small forward for ten seasons

Sibling: Scooter McCray (University of Louisville)

Terrence Williams 1987–

Former NBA player, 11th pick in 2009 draft

Damion Lee 1992–

Former professional basketball player

Also attended: Drexel University

Samardo Samuels 1989–

Jamaican former pro basketball player and NBA veteran

Darrell Griffith 1958–

Utah Jazz basketball player nicknamed Dr. Dunkenstein

Grigoriy Tarasevich 1995–

Russian swimmer

Wesley Korir 1982–

Kenyan runner, 2012 Boston Marathon winner and legislator

Also attended: Murray State University

Joe Jacoby 1959–

Former Washington offensive tackle, three Super Bowls

Chris Brickley 1986–

Former college basketball player at Northeastern and Louisville

Also attended: Northeastern University

Aryeh Kaplan 1934–1983

Orthodox rabbi, author and translator

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park