List of University of Iowa alumni

Academy Award winners

• Diablo Cody – screenwriter, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
• Charles Guggenheim – documentary filmmaker, winning four Academy Awards from twelve nominations
• John Irving – author, winning an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay

Grammy Award winners

• Al Jarreau – seven-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist
• David Sanborn – six-time Grammy-winning saxophonist

Science and technology

• Hind Al-Abadleh – chemist and environmental scientist
• Archie Alexander – first African-American graduate (in engineering); governor of the Virgin Islands
• M. M. Ayoub – pioneer in the field of ergonomics
• Alfred Marshall Bailey – ornithologist and long-term director of the Denver Museum of Natural History
• Antoine Bechara – professor of psychology and neuroscience
• Sidney W. Bijou (1908–2009) – developmental psychologist
• Mark Frederick Boyd – malariologist
• Shirley Briggs – conducted work in pesticide and synthetic chemical research
• Lawrence Einhorn – pioneering oncologist whose research increased testicular cancer survival rates from 10% to 95%
• Mildred Adams Fenton – geologist, paleontologist, writer on paleontology
• Leon Festinger – social psychologist who was responsible for the theory of cognitive dissonance
• James E. Hansen – heads NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies; recognized in Times "100 Most Influential People of 2006" for his efforts to bring understanding and fighting the effects of global climate change
• Bruce C. Heezen – led a team from Columbia University that mapped the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
• Darrell Huff – writer known for best-selling book How to Lie with Statistics
• Herbert Jasper – pioneer of surgical epileptology at the Montreal Neurological Institute
• Marshall Kay – geologist and Penrose Medal winner
• Tom Krimigis – space scientist, physicist
• E.F. Lindquist – co-founder of the ACT examination
• Gregor Luthe – chemist, toxicologist, nanotechnologist, inventor and entrepreneur
• Charles F. Lynch – epidemiologist
• Mark Mattson – neuroscientist at the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Deane Montgomery – mathematician
• Mary Lawson Neff – neurologist
• Kent Norman – cognitive psychologist and expert on computer rage
• George Ojemann – neurosurgeon and cognitive neuroscientist
• Clair Cameron Patterson – geochemist who developed the uranium–lead dating method into lead–lead dating, worked on the Manhattan Project, and led early campaigns against lead poisoning
• Wang Shizhen – Chinese academician, father of Chinese nuclear medicine
• James Van Allen – space scientist
• Charles Van Riper – speech pathologist
• Oswald Veblen – mathematician
• Mildred Mott Wedel – social scientist, archaeologist, ethnohistorian

Sports

Baseball

• Tim Costo – MLB first baseman 1992–1993
• Matt Dermody – MLB pitcher since 2016, notably for Toronto Blue Jays
• Jack Dittmer – MLB second baseman 1952–1957
• Jack Dreyer – MLB pitcher since 2025 for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Cal Eldred – Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 14 years
• Milo Hamilton – sportscaster for the Iowa Hawkeyes and seven different Major League Baseball teams; recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award
• Chris Hatcher – MLB outfielder in 1998
• Hal Manders – relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played in 1941, 1942, and 1946
• Wes Obermueller – Major League Baseball pitcher
• Art Reinhart – Major League Baseball pitcher, 1919–1928
• Jim Sundberg – catcher for the Texas Rangers and other teams

Basketball

• B. J. Armstrong – NBA point guard for the Chicago Bulls
• Jordan Bohannon – Hawkeyes men's player 2016–2022; most career games played in NCAA Division I men's history
• "Downtown" Freddie Brown – guard for the Seattle SuperSonics where he was captain of the 1978–79 World Championship team
• Jennie Baranczyk - played from 2000-2004; current head coach for the University of Oklahoma women’s basketball team.
• Carl Cain – Olympic gold medalist in 1956
• Caitlin Clark – former Hawkeyes women's player and 1st pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft
• Monika Czinano – Hawkeyes women's player 2018–2023
• Chuck Darling – member of the 1956 Summer Olympics gold medal basketball team
• Keno Davis – men's basketball coach at Providence College
• Molly Davis - Assistant coach for University of Evansville
• Ricky Davis – Los Angeles Clippers player
• Kathleen Doyle - Drafted by Indiana Fever 2020; current assistant coach for DePaul University
• Acie Earl – NBA basketball player
• Michelle Edwards – WNBA guard 1997–2001
• Luka Garza – National College Player of the Year 2020–2021; current Minnesota Timberwolves player
• Megan Gustafson – National College Player of the Year 2019; No. 10 retired 2020; Eurocup champion 2024; current player for the Las Vegas Aces; member of 2024 Spanish Olympic team
• Bob Hansen – player for the Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls; basketball analyst for the Hawkeye Radio Network
• Pops Harrison – Iowa head coach 1942–1950
• Dick Ives – played one season in the BAA
• John Johnson – player on 1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics championship team
• Noble Jorgensen – player for the Sheboygan Red Skins, Tri-Cities Blackhawks and Syracuse Nationals
• Ronnie Lester – NBA point guard 1980–1986
• Bill Logan – NBA center in 1956
• Brad Lohaus – NBA player
• Devyn Marble (born 1992) – player for Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Gabbie Marshall – women's player 2019–2024
• Kate Martin – women's basketball team captain 2020–2024; drafted by the Las Vegas Aces; current player for the Golden State Valkyries for their inaugural year
• Keegan Murray – player for the Sacramento Kings
• Kris Murray - player for the Portland Trail Blazers; brother of Keegan Murray
• Don Nelson – player for the Boston Celtics and coach for the Golden State Warriors
• Lucy Olsen – played for Iowa one year, transfer from Villanova to replace Caitlin Clark, drafted by the Washington Mystics
• Erv Prasse – NBL player 1940–1946
• Tangela Smith – center for the WNBA Phoenix Mercury
• Murray Wier – BAA guard 1948–1951
• Herb Wilkinson – drafted to the BAA
• Andre Woolridge (born 1973) – point guard

Field hockey

• Beth Beglin – field hockey Olympic bronze medalist in 1984, head coach at Iowa 1988–1999
• Kris Fillat – field hockey player on US National Team
• Marcia Pankratz – field hockey player on US national team 1985–1996, college field hockey coach

Football

• C. J. Beathard – current player for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Bret Bielema – NFL assistant coach, head coach of the University of Illinois football team
• Paul Burmeister – NFL quarterback, NFL Network anchor
• Jim Caldwell – offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens
• Jack Campbell – linebacker for the Detroit Lions
• Dallas Clark – tight end for the Colts, Buccaneers, and Ravens
• Sean Considine – former NFL defensive safety and special teams, member of the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII championship team
• Kerry Cooks – NFL defensive back
• Dick Crayne – NFL fullback 1936–1937
• Cooper DeJean – cornerback and punt return for the Philadelphia Eagles
• John Derby – NFL linebacker
• Aubrey Devine – College Football Hall of Fame quarterback
• Jeff Drost – NFL defensive tackle
• Wayne Duke – commissioner of the Big Ten Conference 1971–1989
• Tim Dwight – NFL player
• Harold Ely – NFL player
• A. J. Epenesa -–NFL defensive end for the Buffalo Bills
• Dick Evans – NFL player
• Noah Fant - Tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals
• Wesley Fry – general manager for the Oakland Raiders
• Robert Gallery – NFL offensive tackle, second overall pick in 2004 draft
• Willis Glassgow – NFL halfback 1930–1931
• Dennis Green – head coach with the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals
• Merton Hanks – NFL defensive back (four-time Pro Bowl selection)
• Homer Harris – player in 1937; first African American captain of a Big Ten Conference team
• Jay Hilgenberg – center for Chicago Bears (seven-time Pro Bowl selection)
• Jay Higgins - Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens
• Jerry Hilgenberg – Iowa assistant coach 1956–1963
• Wally Hilgenberg – NFL linebacker 1964–1979
• Walt Housman – football player
• Robert L. Hunter – NFL guard and tackle, presiding judge of the Divorce Division of the Cook County Circuit Court, and 1951 Republican nominee for mayor of Chicago
• Carlos James – Arena Football League player
• Cal Jones – one of two Iowa football players to have his jersey retired; won the Outland Trophy in 1955
• Nate Kaeding – NFL placekicker
• Harry Kalas – voice of the Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), NFL on Westwood One and NFL Films
• Aaron Kampman – NFL defensive end
• Alex Karras – professional football player and actor
• Nile Kinnick – Iowa's 1939 Heisman Trophy winner with Iowa's Kinnick Stadium named for him in 1972
• George Kittle – 2x Pro Bowler and 2x All-Pro tight end for the San Francisco 49ers; part of the 49ers Super Bowl LIV team
• Dick Klein – professional football player
• Paul Krause – NFL safety 1964–1979
• Sam LaPorta – NFL tight end for the Detroit Lions
• Joe Laws – professional football player for the Green Bay Packers
• Tyler Linderbaum - Center for the Baltimore Ravens
• Gordon Locke – College Football Hall of Fame fullback
• Chuck Long – closest-ever Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1985; later a college head coach; analyst for the Big Ten Network
• Jim Miller – NFL offensive guard
• Tom Moore – longtime NFL coach and offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts
• Riley Moss - cornerback for the Denver Broncos
• Bruce Nelson – guard and center
• Ben Niemann – NFL linebacker for several teams, drafted by Kansas City Chiefs, currently with the Detroit Lions
• Ken Ploen – CFL Hall of Fame quarterback 1957–1967
• Ed Podolak – player with the Kansas City Chiefs; football analyst for Hawkeye Radio Network
• Fred Roberts – player for the Portsmouth Spartans
• Eddie Robinson – winningest coach in NCAA Division I football history at Grambling State University 1942–1997
• Reggie Roby – punter (three-time Pro Bowl Selection) for the Miami Dolphins
• Bob Sanders – free agent safety, member of the Indianapolis Colts' Super Bowl XLI championship team
• Tyler Sash – safety for the New York Giants' Super Bowl XLVI championship team
• Zud Schammel – NFL guard
• Duke Slater – NFL linebacker 1922–1931
• Scott Slutzker – NFL player
• Larry Station – two-time All-American player
• Bob Stoops – player and coach; former head coach at the University of Oklahoma
• Mark Stoops – player; head coach of the University of Kentucky
• Mike Stoops – player, coach; defensive coordinator at Oklahoma
• Geno Stone - Safety for the Cincinnati Bengals
• Tory Taylor – Australian-born punter 2020–2023; unanimous All American 2023; current player for the Chicago Bears
• Sherwyn Thorson – CFL player 1962–1968
• Andre Tippett – Hall of Fame linebacker for the New England Patriots
• Emlen Tunnell – player; first African American to play for the New York Giants; later played for the Green Bay Packers
• Lukas Van Ness – NFL defensive end for the Green Bay Packers
• Clyde Williams – coach and athletic director at Iowa State 1907–1919
• Marshal Yanda – Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Ravens; member of Super Bowl XLVII championship team

Mixed martial arts

• Jordan Johnson – professional mixed martial artist, currently with the UFC
• Julie Kedzie – two-time Hook n' Shoot Tournament Champion, National Karate Champion; fought in first women's MMA match on cable television

Swimming

• Paul Brechler – athletic director at Iowa and commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference
• Lincoln Hurring – swam in 1952 and 1956 Olympics for New Zealand
• Wally Ris – 1948 Olympic swimmer, winner of two gold medals
• Bowen Stassforth – 1952 Olympic silver medalist swimmer 200 m breaststroke, former world record holder in 200 and 100 breaststroke
• Rafał Szukała – 1992 Olympic silver medalist in 100 butterfly for Poland
• Artur Wojdat – 1988 Olympic bronze medalist in 400 free, former world record holder in 400 freestyle

Tennis

• Kareem Al Allaf (born 1998) – American tennis player who has played for Syria and the US; holds the all-time wins record for singles and doubles combined in college tennis at the university
• Steve Wilkinson – tennis player and coach, member of the United States Professional Tennis Association's Hall of Fame and the ITA Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame

Track and field

• Kineke Alexander – 400m runner competed in 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics
• George Baird – ran 4x400 at 1928 Olympics
• Charles Brookins – 400m hurdles at 1924 Olympics
• Chan Coulter – 400m hurdles at 1924 Olympics
• Francis X. Cretzmeyer – track and field coach, 1948–78; coached Ted Wheeler and Deacon Jones (1956 and 1960 Olympics)
• Frank Cuhel – 1928 Olympic silver medalist in 400 hurdles
• Nan Doak – marathoner
• Troy Doris – triple jumper in 2016 Olympics
• Rich Ferguson – ran 5000m at 1952 Olympics
• Ed Gordon – long jumped at the 1928 Olympics
• Deacon Jones – 1956 and 1960 Olympics, track and field
• Anthuan Maybank – 1996 Olympic Games gold medalist in the men's 4x400 meter relay for the US
• Ira Murchison – former world record holder in 100 yard dash and Olympic gold medalist in 4x100
• Diane Nukuri – competed in 2000, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympics in various distance events
• Harold Phelps – ran 5000m at 1924 Olympics
• Mel Rosen – track coach
• George Saling – Olympic hurdler who won the 110-meter hurdles in the 1932 Summer Olympics
• Jenny Spangler – ran marathon in 1996 Olympics
• Laulauga Tausaga – thrower
• Ted Wheeler – 1500 meters at 1956 Olympics
• Eric Wilson – 400m runner at 1924 Olympics
• Bashir Yamini – long jumper and football player

Wrestling

• Royce Alger – 2x NCAA Champion (87' & 88') and retired mixed martial artist
• Ed Banach – light heavyweight gold medalist at 1984 Olympic Games, Los Angeles
• Lou Banach – heavyweight gold medalist at 1984 Olympic Games, Los Angeles
• Stub Barron
• Paul Bradley – two-time NCAA All-American; professional mixed martial artist, formerly with the UFC and currently with Bellator
• Terry Brands – NCAA Champion in 1990 and 1992, 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, and two-time World freestyle Champion in 1993 & 1995
• Tom Brands – Outstanding Wrestler Award at the 1992 NCAA Tournament; World Champion in 1993; Olympic Champion in 1996
• Rico Chiapparelli – NCAA Champ in 1987; mixed martial arts trainer
• Barry Davis – bantamweight silver medalist 1984 Olympic Games, Los Angeles
• Ettore Ewen – professional wrestler for WWE under the name "Big E"
• Randall Lewis – featherweight gold medalist at 1984 Olympic Games
• Terrence McCann – Olympic gold medalist in 1960 freestyle bantamweight class
• Lincoln McIlravy – Olympic bronze medalist in 2000 freestyle welterweight class
• Brent Metcalf – 2008 and 2010 NCAA Champion; 2008 Dan Hodge Trophy winner
• Steve Mocco – 2003 NCAA Division I Champion at Heavyweight; 2008 Olympic team member; current professional MMA fighter
• Tony Ramos – 2014 NCAA Champion
• E. G. Schroeder – first wrestling and tennis coach at Iowa, athletic director
• Joe Williams – three-time NCAA Champion; 2001 and 2005 wrestling world bronze medalist
• Bill Zadick – 1996 NCAA Wrestling Champion, 2006 World Champion
• Mike Zadick – 2006 wrestling world silver medalist
• Jim Zalesky – three-time NCAA Champion; current coach for Oregon State University

Other

• Paul Brechler – athletic director at Iowa and commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference
• Houry Gebeshian – Armenian Olympic gymnast at the 2016 Summer Olympics
• Laurie Mabry – professor at Illinois State University and former president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women

References

External links

• Notable University of Iowa alumni