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152 notable alumni U.S. News #73

Notable Alumni of North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Notable alumni of North Carolina State University at Raleigh include Christina Koch (NASA astronaut on first all-female spacewalk), Zach Galifianakis (Comedian and actor in The Hangover trilogy) and John Edwards (Former senator, 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

Business

Science and academia

Arts and media

  • Zach Galifianakis 1969–

    Comedian and actor in The Hangover trilogy

    Also attended: Wilkes Community College

  • Scotty McCreery 1993–

    Country singer, American Idol season 10 winner

  • Jill Wagner 1979–

    American actress, on-field host of Wipeout

  • Kij Johnson 1960–

    Fantasy and speculative fiction writer

  • Chris Hondros 1970–2011

    War photographer, twice Pulitzer finalist

    Also attended: Ohio University-Main Campus

  • John Tesh 1952–

    American musician and radio and television presenter

    Spouse: Connie Sellecca (Boston College)

  • Randy Boone 1942–2025

    Actor and singer, known for The Virginian

  • Eduardo Halfon 1971–

    Guatemalan writer

    Industrial engineering

  • Tab Thacker 1962–2007

    Wrestler and actor

  • Texe Marrs 1944–2019

    Writer, radio host and fundamentalist Christian minister

    Also attended: Park University

  • Brett Claywell 1978–

    Actor known for One Tree Hill

  • Rapsody 1983–

    American rapper and songwriter

  • Andy Duncan 1964–

    Science fiction and fantasy writer

    Also attended: The University of Alabama, University of South Carolina-Columbia

  • Caitlin Cary 1968–

    Alternative country musician and visual artist

    Also attended: College of Wooster

  • Jon Reep 1972–

    Stand-up comedian and actor

  • Alyssa Wong 1901–

    Speculative fiction writer and Nebula Award winner

  • Art Taylor 1968–

    Short story writer, book critic and English professor

    Also attended: Yale University

  • Christopher Ruocchio 1985–

    Science fiction and fantasy author of The Sun Eater series

  • Phil Freelon 1952–2019

    American architect

    Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hampton University

    Spouse: Nnenna Freelon (Simmons University)

  • Esa Piironen 1943–

    Finnish architect

    Attended until 1972

  • Jeb Bishop 1962–

    Jazz trombonist

    Also attended: University of Arizona, Northwestern University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Robert Greene 1976–

    Documentary filmmaker, director of Bisbee '17

    Also attended: CUNY--City College

  • Samuel W. Mitcham 1949–

    Military historian and author

    Also attended: University of Louisiana--Monroe, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

  • Leigha Hancock 1986–

    Stuntwoman known for The Hunger Games

Sports

  • Charlotte Flair 1986–

    WWE professional wrestler and 14-time world champion

    Bachelor's degree · Public relations · Class of 2008

    Also attended: Appalachian State University

    Father: Ric Flair (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities)

  • Joan Benoit Samuelson 1957–

    First women's Olympic marathon champion, 1984

    Also attended: Bowdoin College

  • Spud Webb 1963–

    Former pro basketball point guard

    Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus, Midland College

  • Russell Wilson 1988–

    NFL quarterback, Super Bowl champion with Seahawks

    Also attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Spouse: Ciara (Harvard University)

    Sibling: Anna Wilson (Stanford University)

  • Pablo Mastroeni 1976–

    Soccer coach and former US national team player

  • Jesse Williams 1983–

    High jumper, 2011 World Champion

    Also attended: University of Southern California

  • Cullen Jones 1984–

    Swimmer and Olympic gold medalist

  • David Thompson 1954–

    Basketball player nicknamed Skywalker

  • Tab Ramos 1966–

    Former US national team player and coach

  • Noè Ponti 2001–

    Swiss swimmer, 2020 Olympic 100m butterfly bronze medallist

  • Nate McMillan 1964–

    NBA coach and former player

    Also attended: Chowan University

  • Philip Rivers 1981–

    NFL quarterback, primarily with the Chargers

    Attended until 2004

  • Lorenzo Brown 1990–

    American-born Spanish professional basketball player

  • J. J. Hickson 1988–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Dennis Smith Jr. 1997–

    Professional basketball player

  • T. J. Warren 1993–

    Professional basketball player

  • Thurl Bailey 1961–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Jill Ellis 1966–

    Football manager and FIFA chief football officer

    Also attended: College of William and Mary

  • Duncan Goodhew 1957–

    British swimmer, 1980 Olympic gold medallist

  • Josh Powell 1983–

    NBA player, two-time champion with the Lakers

  • Vinny Del Negro 1966–

    Former NBA player and Bulls and Clippers head coach

  • Ryan Held 1995–

    American sprint freestyle swimmer

  • Panagiotis Fasoulas 1963–

    Greek basketball player and politician

    Child: Mariella Fasoula (Boston College, Vanderbilt University)

  • Katharine Berkoff 2001–

    Swimmer, 2024 Olympic relay gold medalist

    Father: David Berkoff (Harvard University)

  • Ömer Faruk Yurtseven 1998–

    Turkish professional basketball player

  • Caleb Martin 1995–

    Professional basketball player in the NBA

    Sibling: Cody Martin (North Carolina State University at Raleigh)

  • Stephen Rerych 1946–

    Swimmer, 1968 Olympic gold medalist

    Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

  • Roy Lassiter 1969–

    Former professional soccer forward

    Attended until 1992

    Also attended: Lees-McRae College

    Child: Ariel Lassiter (California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo)

  • Nazmi Albadawi 1991–

    Former Palestine national team footballer

    Also attended: Wake Technical Community College

  • Tom Gugliotta 1969–

    Former NBA player, sixth pick in 1992 draft

  • Kenny Carr 1955–

    NBA player, sixth pick in 1977 draft

  • John Sadri 1956–

    Tennis player, 1978 NCAA singles finalist

  • Cedric Simmons 1986–

    Former pro basketball player for Bulgaria's national team

  • Simonas Bilis 1993–

    Lithuanian swimmer and two-time Olympian

  • Cody Martin 1995–

    Professional basketball player

    Sibling: Caleb Martin (North Carolina State University at Raleigh)

  • Lucas Kozeniesky 1995–

    Sport shooter at the 2016 Olympics

  • Tommy Burleson 1952–

    NBA center, 1974 NC State champion

  • Steve Gregg 1955–2024

    Swimmer; 1976 Olympic 200 m butterfly silver medalist

  • Andreas Vazaios 1994–

    Greek swimmer and four-time Olympian

  • Sophie Hansson 1998–

    Swedish swimmer at three Olympics

  • Bones McKinney 1919–1997

    Professional basketball player and coach

  • Damien Wilkins 1980–

    Former NBA basketball player

    Father: Gerald Wilkins (Moberly Area Community College, University of Tennessee--Chattanooga)

  • Charmaine Hooper 1968–

    Canadian retired women's soccer player

  • Chucky Brown 1968–

    Former NBA player and college basketball coach

  • Linda Hamilton 1969–

    Former US women's national team defender and coach

    Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Trea Turner 1993–

    MLB shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies

  • Todd Fuller 1974–

    Former basketball player, 11th pick in 1996 NBA draft

    Also attended: Western Carolina University

  • Chasity Melvin 1976–

    Retired professional basketball player and coach

  • Carlos Rodon 1992–

    Major League Baseball pitcher

  • Chuck Nevitt 1959–

    7 ft 5 in NBA center, among the tallest ever

  • Engin Atsür 1984–

    Turkish professional point guard

  • Bradley Chubb 1996–

    NFL outside linebacker, 2018 first-round pick

    Sociology

  • Sylvester Terkay 1970–

    Professional wrestler and mixed martial artist

  • David Fox 1971–

    Swimmer, 1996 Olympic gold medalist

    Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Thori Staples Bryan 1974–

    Former US women's national team soccer defender

  • Sidney Lowe 1960–

    Former basketball player and NC State head coach

  • Jackie Moreland 1938–1971

    Former Detroit Pistons basketball player

  • Evan Karagias 1973–

    Retired professional wrestler and actor

  • Bill Cowher 1957–

    Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach

  • Michael Gracz 1980–

    Polish professional poker player

  • Roman Gabriel 1940–2024

    NFL quarterback

    Also attended: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Other fields

  • Bill Warner 1941–

    Former physics professor and anti-Islam writer

  • Michael Binger 1976–

    Professional poker player

    Also attended: Stanford University

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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh (people who attended both).