Notable Alumni of West Virginia University

Joe Manchin 1947–

Former West Virginia governor and U.S. senator

Bachelor in Business Administration · Class of 1970

Spouse: Gayle Conelly Manchin (West Virginia University)

Child: Heather Bresch (West Virginia University)

Philander C. Knox 1853–1921

US Senator and lawyer

Also attended: University of Mount Union

Anthony McAuliffe 1898–1975

U.S. general famed for Bastogne reply "Nuts!"

Also attended: The United States Military Academy at West Point

Earl Ray Tomblin 1952–

35th Governor of West Virginia

Also attended: Marshall University

Arch A. Moore 1923–2015

28th and 30th governor of West Virginia

Also attended: Lafayette College

Child: Shelley Moore Capito (Duke University, University of Virginia-Main Campus)

Bantz J. Craddock 1949–

Retired U.S. Army general and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Cecil H. Underwood 1922–2008

25th and 32nd governor of West Virginia

Also attended: Salem University

Matthew M. Neely 1874–1958

21st governor of West Virginia

Attended until 1902

Also attended: Salem University

Steve Murphy 1957–

Retired DEA agent who helped hunt Pablo Escobar

Also attended: Bluefield State University

William Laird III 1916–1974

US senator from West Virginia

Also attended: King University

Howard Mason Gore 1877–1947

8th US Secretary of Agriculture

Billy Mays 1958–2009

Television direct-response advertisement salesperson

John Chambers 1949–

Former CEO and executive chairman of Cisco Systems

Also attended: Indiana University-Bloomington, Duke University

Katherine Johnson 1918–2020

NASA mathematician whose orbital calculations aided US spaceflights

Attended until 1940

Also attended: West Virginia State University

Jon McBride 1943–2024

Navy officer and NASA astronaut

Attended until 1964

Also attended: Naval Postgraduate School, Pepperdine University

Victor Ernest Shelford 1877–1968

Animal ecologist, first president of the Ecological Society of America

Also attended: University of Chicago

Steven C. Hayes 1948–

Psychologist, co-developer of acceptance and commitment therapy

Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts · Class of 1977

Also attended: Loyola Marymount University

Henry T. Yang 1940–

5th Chancellor of UC Santa Barbara

Also attended: Cornell University, Purdue University-Main Campus

Steve Harvey 1957–

TV host and comedian, hosts Family Feud

Also attended: Kent State University at Kent

Don Knotts 1924–2006

Actor known for The Andy Griffith Show

Cheryl Hines 1965–

Actress known for Curb Your Enthusiasm

Also attended: University of Central Florida, Florida State University, Tallahassee State College

Spouse: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Harvard University, Pace University-New York)

Antoine Fuqua 1965–

Film director and producer

Also attended: West Virginia State University

Conchata Ferrell 1943–2020

Actress who played Berta in Two and a Half Men

Also attended: Marshall University

Chris Sarandon 1942–

Actor, voice of Jack Skellington

Also attended: Catholic University of America

Spouse: Joanna Gleason (University of California-Los Angeles, Occidental College)

Taylor Kinney 1981–

Actor known for Chicago Fire

Paul Dooley 1928–

Actor, television writer and comedian

Also attended: West Virginia State University

Spouse: Winnie Holzman (Princeton University, Circle in the Square Theatre School)

Josh Stewart 1977–

Actor known for Third Watch

Little Jimmy Dickens 1920–2015

Country music singer and songwriter

David Selby 1941–

Actor in Dark Shadows and Falcon Crest

Asra Nomani 1965–

Indian American journalist and author

Also attended: American University

Pat McAfee 1987–

ESPN host and former NFL punter

Fuzzy Knight 1901–1976

Film and television actor and singer

Bill Hayes 1925–2024

Actor and singer, hit The Ballad of Davy Crockett

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: Northwestern University, DePauw University

Stephen Coonts 1946–

Spy thriller novelist

Also attended: University of Colorado Boulder

Jay Chattaway 1946–

Film and TV composer for Star Trek series

Blanche Lazzell 1878–1956

Painter and printmaker known for white-line woodcuts

Also attended: West Virginia Wesleyan College

Jeff Chase 1968–

Film and television actor, former arena football player

Jayne Anne Phillips 1952–

Novelist and short story writer

Jerry West 1938–2024

Los Angeles Lakers NBA player and executive

Heath Slater 1983–

Professional wrestler, formerly of WWE

Ashley Lawrence 1995–

Canadian professional soccer player

Virginia Thrasher 1997–

Sports shooter, 2016 Olympic 10m air rifle gold medalist

Kadeisha Buchanan 1995–

Canadian women's soccer defender

Niccolò Campriani 1987–

Italian sport shooter, 2012 Olympic gold medalist

Hunter Armstrong 2001–

Swimmer, former 50m backstroke world record holder

Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus

Rod Hundley 1934–2015

1957 NBA first overall pick and broadcaster

Joe Alexander 1986–

Former professional basketball player, born in Taiwan

Joe Mazzulla 1988–

Head coach of the Boston Celtics

Devin Ebanks 1989–

Basketball player drafted by the Lakers in 2010

Fred Schaus 1925–2010

Basketball player, coach and Lakers general manager

Jevon Carter 1995–

NBA player for the Orlando Magic

Geno Smith 1990–

NFL quarterback

Oscar Tshiebwe 1999–

Congolese basketball player for the Houston Rockets

Attended until 2020

Also attended: University of Kentucky

Jarrod Smith 1984–

New Zealand professional footballer

Rod Thorn 1941–

NBA executive and former player, Hall of Famer

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Sam Huff 1934–2021

NFL linebacker for the New York Giants

Jack Elliott 1995–

English footballer, captain of Chicago Fire

Michaela Abam 1997–

Footballer for the Cameroon national team

Miles McBride 2000–

NBA player for the New York Knicks

Kevin Jones 1989–

Basketball player and West Virginia All-American

Jerome Anderson 1953–2009

Former professional basketball player and coach