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^[update].^[3]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Business

Name Class year Notability References John A. Allison IV 1995 Former Chairman and CEO of 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 Former CEO of BB&T [8] James Maynard 1965 Founder of Golden Corral [9] Linda McMahon 1969 Current United States Secretary of Education; 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration; Former President and CEO of WWE. [10] Vince McMahon 1968 Former Chairman and CEO of WWE [11]

Vince McMahon

Athletics

Administration

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

Athletes

This article is about players not drafted by the NFL. For players drafted in the NFL, see List of East Carolina Pirates in the NFL Draft.

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

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

Clyde Simms

Baseball

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

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 and Paralympics

Name Class year Notability References Héctor Cotto 2008, 2012 27th, 42nd in 110 m hurdles [47] Lex Gillette 2007 silver – 2008 Summer Paralympics – men's long jump – F11; silver – 2004 Summer Paralympics – men's long jump – F11 [48] LaShawn Merritt 2005 gold – 2007 Osaka – 4x400 m relay; silver – 2007 Osaka – 400 m; gold – 2008 Beijing – 400 m; gold – 2008 Beijing – 4x400 m relay; gold – 2009 Berlin – 400 m; gold – 2009 Berlin – 4x400m relay [49]

LaShawn Merritt

NASCAR

Name Class year Notability References Jeff Hammond 1970 former NASCAR crew chief; current Fox Sports NASCAR commentator; former football player [50]

Jeff Hammond

Humanities

Arts and entertainment

Name Class year Notability References Scott Avett 1999 musician, The Avett Brothers [51] Sandra Bullock 1986 actress, producer [52] Constance Bumgarner Gee scholar, advocate of medical use of cannabis [53] Carter Cruise 2013 DJ, producer, model, and pornographic actress [53] Kristen Dalton 2010 Miss Universe 2009 (Top 10); Miss USA 2009; Miss North Carolina USA 2009 [52] Jimmy Donaldson 2017 MrBeast, Content Creator, Executive, Director, Producer, Actor, VO Artist and Author [54] 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 MrBeast

Authors

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

Emmy Award winners

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

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; Congressan, US House of Representatives North Carolina District 01 [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] 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

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

Name Class year Notability References Nate Bell 1977, current brigadier general; Assistant Adjutant General William M. Faulkner 1982 brigadier general; commanding general, 3rd Marine Logistics Group [85] 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 [86]

William M. Faulkner William L. Holland Gary L. North

Pulitzer Prize winners

Name Class year Notability References Rick Atkinson 1974 Pulitzer Prize winner – History, 2003, An Army at Dawn; Public Service, 1999; National Reporting, 1982 [87] Dan Neil 1982 Pulitzer Prize winner – Distinguished Criticism, 2004 [88] 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