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151 notable alumni U.S. News #59

Notable Alumni of Florida State University

Notable alumni of Florida State University include Jim Morrison (Lead vocalist of The Doors and poet), Richard Simmons (Fitness instructor, Sweatin' to the Oldies video star) and Burt Reynolds (Actor and film director).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

Business

  • Sara Blakely 1971–

    Founder of Spanx

    Communication

  • Sharon Lechter 1954–

    Co-author of Rich Dad Poor Dad

Science and academia

  • Sylvia A. Earle 1935–

    Oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer at Large

    Also attended: Duke University

  • Norman Thagard 1943–

    NASA astronaut, first American to ride a Russian spacecraft

    Also attended: University of Florida

  • Winston E. Scott 1950–

    Former NASA astronaut and Navy captain

    Also attended: Naval Postgraduate School

  • Storrs L. Olson 1944–2021

    Ornithologist and avian paleontologist at the Smithsonian

    Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science

    Also attended: Johns Hopkins University

    Spouse: Helen James (University of Arkansas)

  • George Dickie 1926–2020

    Philosopher, professor emeritus at UIC

  • Mary Helen Johnston 1945–

    Scientist and former NASA astronaut

  • Mostafa El-Sayed 1933–

    Egyptian-American chemist and National Medal of Science laureate

  • Lois Mai Chan 1934–2014

    Library scientist and University of Kentucky professor

    Also attended: University of Kentucky

Arts and media

Sports

  • Mami Yamaguchi 1986–

    Japanese football coach and former player

  • Dave Cowens 1948–

    Former NBA center and head coach

  • Walter Dix 1986–

    Retired sprinter specializing in 100m and 200m

  • Michelle McCool 1980–

    Retired professional wrestler, WWE ambassador

    Spouse: The Undertaker (California State University--Long Beach, Texas Wesleyan University)

  • Sam Cassell 1969–

    Former NBA point guard, Celtics assistant coach

  • Paul Haarhuis 1966–

    Dutch tennis coach and former pro player

  • Kévin Borlée 1988–

    Belgian 400 metres sprinter

    Sibling: Jonathan Borlée (Florida State University)

  • Marita Payne 1960–

    Canadian track athlete and two-time Olympian

    Spouse: Mitchell Wiggins (Clemson University)

    Child: Nick Wiggins (Wichita State University)

  • Scottie Barnes 2001–

    Toronto Raptors NBA player

  • Kim Batten 1969–

    Hurdler, 1995 women's 400m hurdles world record holder

  • Tori Penso 1986–

    Referee of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final

  • Malik Beasley 1996–

    Former NBA player for Nuggets and Lakers

  • Jonathan Borlée 1988–

    Belgian 400 metres sprinter

    Sibling: Kévin Borlée (Florida State University)

  • Ron Simmons 1958–

    Pro wrestler, first Black WCW World Heavyweight Champion

  • Brooks Koepka 1990–

    Professional golfer, former world number one

  • Deyna Castellanos 1999–

    Venezuelan professional footballer

  • Gabrielle Carle 1998–

    Canadian professional soccer player

  • Michael Cherry 1995–

    Olympic 400 meters sprinter

    Also attended: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

  • Casey Krueger 1990–

    Soccer defender for the U.S. national team

  • Dwayne Bacon 1995–

    Professional basketball player

  • Patrick Williams 2001–

    Chicago Bulls NBA player

  • Terance Mann 1996–

    NBA player for the Brooklyn Nets

  • Alonzo Russell 1992–

    Bahamian 400m sprinter and Olympian

  • Buster Posey 1987–

    Former Giants catcher, now baseball operations president

  • Leticia Romero 1995–

    Spanish women's basketball player

    Also attended: Kansas State University

  • Deion Sanders 1967–

    Head football coach at University of Colorado Boulder

    Also attended: Talladega College

    Child: Shedeur Sanders (University of Colorado Boulder, Jackson State University)

  • Devin Vassell 2000–

    NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs

  • Tuija Hyyrynen 1988–

    Finnish former football defender

  • Jonathan Isaac 1997–

    NBA player for the Orlando Magic

  • Stephen Newbold 1994–

    Bahamian sprinter

  • Dagný Brynjarsdóttir 1991–

    Icelandic footballer who played for West Ham

  • Solomon Alabi 1988–

    Nigerian former professional basketball player

  • Linden Hall 1991–

    Australian middle-distance runner

  • Al Thornton 1983–

    Basketball player, formerly of Clippers, Wizards, Warriors

  • Allison Jolly 1956–

    Sailor and Olympic champion

  • Chris Singleton 1989–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Janice Cayman 1988–

    Belgium's most-capped female footballer

  • Michelle Finn-Burrell 1965–

    Former American sprinter

  • Jalen Ramsey 1994–

    NFL cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Ngonidzashe Makusha 1987–

    Zimbabwean sprinter and long jumper

  • Hannah England 1987–

    British middle-distance runner, 2011 World silver medallist

  • Sage Watson 1994–

    Canadian 400 metres hurdler

    Also attended: University of Arizona

  • Phil Boggs 1949–1990

    1976 Olympic 3m springboard diving champion

    Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • Leonor Rodríguez 1991–

    Spanish former international basketball player

    Attended until 2013

  • Paul Azinger 1960–

    Professional golfer, 1993 PGA Championship winner

  • Emma Koivisto 1994–

    Finnish footballer for AC Milan and Finland

  • Edidiong Odiong 1997–

    Bahraini sprinter, 2016 World U20 200m champion

  • Natalia Kuikka 1995–

    Finnish footballer, defender for Chicago Stars

  • María Conde 1997–

    Spanish women's basketball player

  • Tony La Russa 1944–

    Former professional baseball infielder and manager

    Also attended: University of South Florida-Main Campus

  • Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir 1992–

    Icelandic footballer and national team forward

  • Susan Krumins 1986–

    Dutch middle- and long-distance runner

  • Bob Bowman 1964–

    Swimming coach of Michael Phelps

  • Charlie Ward 1970–

    Basketball coach, former pro player and college footballer

  • Kimberly Williams 1988–

    Jamaican triple jumper

  • Gabrielle Reece 1970–

    Former pro volleyball player and TV host

Other fields

  • Toni-Ann Singh 1996–

    Jamaican model, Miss World 2019

  • Gregory Parkes 1964–

    Catholic Bishop of Saint Petersburg in Florida

From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.

Alumni network

Colleges that share the most alumni with Florida State University (people who attended both).