The Class of 1914 of then-East Carolina Teacher Training School, with 38 graduates

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 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.[3]

Business

Name Class year Notability References
John A. Allison IV 1995 former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 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 CEO of BB&T [8]
James Maynard 1965 founder of Golden Corral restaurant [9]
Linda McMahon 1969 former Chief Executive Officer of WWE, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (Designate) [10]
Vince McMahon 1968 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 from 2005 to 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]
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

Name Class year Notability References
Héctor Cotto 2008, 2012 27th, 42nd in 110 m hurdles [47]
Charles Futrell 1942 World Champion Olympic Distance Triathlon [48]
Lex Gillette 2007 silver – 2008 Summer Paralympics – men's long jump – F11; silver – 2004 Summer Paralympics – men's long jump – F11 [49]
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 		[50]
LaShawn Merritt

NASCAR

Name Class year Notability References
Jeff Hammond 1970 former NASCAR crew chief; current Fox Sports NASCAR commentator; former football player [51]
Jeff Hammond

Humanities

Arts and entertainment

Name Class year Notability References
Scott Avett 1999 musician, The Avett Brothers [52]
Sandra Bullock 1986 actress, producer [53]
Constance Bumgarner Gee scholar, advocate of medical use of cannabis [54]
Carter Cruise 2013 DJ, producer, model, and pornographic actress [54]
Kristen Dalton 2010 Miss Universe 2009 (Top 10); Miss USA 2009; Miss North Carolina USA 2009 [53]
Manita Devkota 2017 Miss Universe 2018 (Top 10); Miss Nepal 2018; [53]
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

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]
Donald G. Davis M.A., Ed.D. Senator, North Carolina Senate; Mayor, Snow Hill [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]
James A. Upchurch B.S. 2015 County Commissioner, Guilford County Board of Commissioners
Douglas Yongue B.S. 1959,
M.A. 1960 		Representative, North Carolina House of Representatives [80]
Beth Wood 1984 Auditor of North Carolina [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
Dwight D. Badgett 2008 Command Chief Master Sergeant for Air Force Reserve Command [85]
Nate Bell 1977, current Brigadier general; Assistant Adjutant General
James A. Brunson 1980 Brigadier general; Joint Force Headquarters, Deputy Commander, Michigan Army National Guard [86]
Hugh C. Cameron 1972 retired Brigadier general; Vice Commander, 9th Air Force; Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command Air Forces [87]
Catherine A. Chilton 1981 Brigadier general; Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base [88]
Jeffrey Clark 1984, current Brigadier general; Director, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
George R. Farfour 1970 Colonel; Chief of Staff, Air Force Global Strike Command [89]
William M. Faulkner 1982 Brigadier general; Commanding General, 3rd Marine Logistics Group [90]
Brian W. Flynn 1970 retired Rear admiral and Assistant Surgeon General [91]
William L. Holland 1975 Major general; Commander, 9th Air Force, Air Combat Command [92]
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 [93]
Gary H. Wilfong 1971, 1977 Brigadier general; Assistant Adjutant General; Commander of the North Carolina Air National Guard [94]

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 [95]
Dan Neil 1982 Pulitzer Prize winner – Distinguished Criticism, 2004 [96]
Margaret O'Connor 1970 Pulitzer Prize winner – Breaking News Photography, 2002; Feature Photography, 2002
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

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