University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Prominent Alumni
9/8/2014 2:41:00 PM | Delaware Athletics
Since its inception in 1743, the University of Delaware has steadily produced some of the most productive and accomplished members of our society. From statesmen to scientists to sports figures, the Blue Hen family boasts a lengthy list of prominent alumni.
Delaware is one of only five colleges in the nation to have produced a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a Secretary of State, and a Vice President. Harvard, Princeton, William & Mary and Yale are the only other institutions to have a similarly prestigious alumni base.
The Blue Hen family also consists of several worldrenowned inventors, a pioneer in the computer industry. Astronauts and acclaimed aeronautical experts have also been known to call Newark home during their collegiate careers.
In the entertainment industry, Delaware has been a steady producer of both top-flight athletes and award-winning entertainers. From Hall of Fame professional athletes to Emmy-nominated actors, Delaware has continued to supply the world with entertainment.
| Mike Adams | NFL Pro Bowl Safety, Indianapolis Colts/Super Bowl Participant; Currently with Carolina Panthers |
| Kurt Akeley | Principal Researcher, Microsoft |
| John L. Anderson | President, Illinois Institute of Technology |
| Susan Barnett | Emmy-winning Anchor/Journalist |
| Joe Biden | Vice President of the United States of America (2008-16); longtime U.S. Senator from Delaware |
| Jill Tracy Biden | Professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College; Second Lady of the United States of America (2008-16) |
| Nick Boyle | NFL Baltimore Ravens Tight End |
| Scott Brunner | Former NFL Quarterback |
| Marcus Burley | Former NFL Seattle Seahawks Defensive Back/Super Bowl Participant |
| Thomas Carper | Current U.S. Senator (2001-Present); U.S. Representative from Delaware (1983-93); Delaware Governor (1993-2001) |
| Bob Carpenter Jr. | Former Owner, Philadelphia Phillies |
| David L. Chicoine | President, South Dakota State University |
| Chris Christie | New Jersey Governor (2010-18); Former Presidential Candidate |
| John P. Costas | CEO, UBS Investment Bank |
| Richard Dean | Fashion Photographer |
| Elena Delle Donne | 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year; 2015 WNBA Most Valuable Player; U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist (2016) |
| Pat Devlin | Former NFL Quarterback |
| Dave DeWalt | CEO, FireEye, Inc. |
| John Elias | Co-Inventor, Touchscreen Technology |
| Joe Flacco | NFL Baltimore Ravens Quarterback, Super Bowl MVP |
| Yvette Freeman | Actress, ER |
| Rich Gannon | 2002 NFL MVP Quarterback (Oakland Raiders), NFL Analyst |
| Bryan Gordon | Emmy-nominated director, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" |
| Robert Gore | Inventor, Gore-Tex |
| Gino Gradkowski | Carolina Panthers Guard/Center; Super Bowl Champion (Baltimore) |
| John Grant, Jr. | Former Major League Lacrosse Champion; Most Valuable Player |
| Dallas Green | Manager, 1980 Philadelphia Phillies (World Champions); New York Yankees; New York Mets |
| Steve Harris | Emmy-nominated Actor, The Practice |
| Jacqueline Jones | MacArthur Fellow |
| Page Kennedy | Actor, Desperate Housewives/Weeds |
| Zach Kerr | Defensive Tackle, Denver Broncos |
| Michael F. Koehler | CEO, Teradata |
| Mike Koplove | 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Baseball |
| Chad Kuhl | Major League Baseball Pitcher (Pittsburgh) |
| Erle Ladson | Former NFL Offensive Tackle |
| Scott Levy | Raven of the WWE |
| Charles Lewis | MacArthur Fellow |
| Thomas McKean | Signer, Declaration of Independence |
| Louis McLane | Former Secretary of State |
| Tom Mees | Original ESPN Sports Anchor |
| Kevin Mench | Former Major League Baseball Player |
| Robin Miller | Host, Food Network |
| Steve Mosko | President, Sony Television |
| Daniel Nathans | Nobel Prize Winner |
| Adam Osborne | Computer Pioneer |
| Jeff Pearlman | Sports Journalist and Author (The Athletic/Sports Illustrated) |
| Larry Probst | Chairman, United States Olympic Committee; Executive Chairman, Entertainment Arts |
| Dave Raymond | Original Phillie Phanatic; Owner, Raymond Entertainment Group |
| George Read | Signer, Declaration of Independence |
| Ömer Sabanci | Turkish Businessman |
| Alex Smith | Former Professional Lacrosse Player; Entrepreneur |
| James Smith | Signer, Declaration of Independence |
| LizAnn Sonders | Chief Investment Strategist, Charles Schwab |
| Leonard Stark | U.S. District Court Judge, Delaware |
| Susan Stroman | Tony Award-winner |
| Ivory Sully | Former NFL Player |
| Mark Swinger | Pilot, Blue Angels |
| Peter Thejll | Astrophysicist and climate expert |
| George Thorogood | Rock Musician (George Thorogood & the Delaware Destroyers) |
| Dilshad Vadsaria | Actress |
| Lodewijk van den Berg | Astronaut, Challenger |
| James W. Wagner | President, Emory University |
| John Wallace | Former Associate Justice, New Jersey Supreme Court |
| Wayne Westerman | Co-Inventor, Touchscreen Technology |
| Marna Whittington | Director, Macy's, Inc. |
| Vic Willis | National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee |
| Paul Worrilow |
NFL Detroit Lions Linebacker; Played in Super Bowl with Atlanta |
