Alumni
Academics
- William Bennett Bizzell, former president of the University of Oklahoma and former president of Texas A&M University
- Barbara H. Bowman, geneticist and former professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and University of Texas Health Science Center
- Gilberto Freyre, Brazilian sociologist, cultural anthropologist and historian
- Edwin Gaustad, historian of religion in America
- Guy Benton Johnson, Sociologist and cultural anthropologist; distinguished student of black culture in the rural South and a pioneer advocate of racial equality
- Jo Jorgensen, Clemson University lecturer in psychology and Libertarian Party candidate for president in 2020, VP in 1996
- Glenn McGee, professor of medicine, philosophy, law and public health
- Judy Jolley Mohraz, 9th president of Goucher College, women's history professor, and philanthropist
- Royce Money, former president of Abilene Christian University
- Mark W. Muesse, philosopher and professor emeritus at Rhodes College
- Olin Clyde Robison, former president of Middlebury College
- Lawrence Sullivan Ross, former president of Texas A&M University and Governor of Texas
- Beck A. Taylor, president of Samford University
- Dixon Wecter (BA, 1925), Margaret Byrne Professor of United States History at the University of California, Berkeley [1]
- Dallas Willard, philosopher and professor at the University of Southern California
The arts
- H. Parrott Bacot, art historian
- Nancy Barrett, actress, best known for her roles in the soap opera Dark Shadows
- Crystal Bernard, singer and actress who starred in the television series Wings
- Marc Burckhardt, artist and illustrator
- Carole Cook, actress, Broadway and film
- Elizabeth A. Davis, Tony Award-nominated actress
- Jim Dickinson, record producer, singer and pianist
- Phil Driscoll, Grammy-winning singer/trumpet player
- Rodger Dean Duncan, author and business consultant
- Jeff Dunham, ventriloquist and comedian
- Forrest Frank, singer, songwriter, and producer
- Robert Fulghum, best-selling author, philosopher
- Chip Gaines, television personality, entrepreneur, and author; television series Fixer Upper and Magnolia Market
- Joanna Gaines, television personality, entrepreneur, and author; television series Fixer Upper and Magnolia Market
- Florence Gerald (BA, 1880), writer, poet, stage actress [2]
- Bruce Greer, composer
- Shaun Groves, Christian contemporary musician, singer, songwriter
- Derek Haas, author/screenwriter
- Jack Hamm, author of acclaimed art books, cartoonist
- John Lee Hancock, director of The Alamo; producer of My Dog Skip [3]
- Robin Hardy, author of numerous books including The Annals of Lystra: Chataine's Guardian
- Thomas Harris, best-selling author of Silence of the Lambs
- Mark Hayes, Christian music vocal and instrumental arranger
- Jackson Hurst, actor, television series Drop Dead Diva and Walking Tall 3
- Brett James, country music singer and songwriter
- Julie Kenner, author and former lawyer
- Kara Killmer, actress, Chicago Fire
- Angela Kinsey (BA, 1993); actress, podcaster, and television panelist
- Clancy Martin, novelist and philosopher
- Erin McCarley, songwriter-musician
- Brooklyn and Bailey McKnight, actresses and YouTube personalities
- Austin Miller, actor, dancer, and singer on Grease: You're The One That I Want [4]
- Jay Hunter Morris, operatic tenor
- Willie Nelson, country music star
- Eddie Noack, country music singer and songwriter
- Grady Nutt, pastor, humorist and television personality; regular on Hee Haw (1979–1983) [5]
- David Phelps, tenor for the Gaither Vocal Band
- Derek Phillips, actor
- Alfred Reed, composer and conductor
- Kevin Reynolds, film director
- Maddy Rosenberg, artist
- Gretchen Rossi, TV personality, The Real Housewives of Orange County
- Paul Smith, singer/songwriter, member of The Imperials
- Suzy Spencer, true-crime writer and novelist
- Robert Sterling, songwriter, produce, arranger
- Steven Stucky, Pulitzer Prize winner for music [6]
- David Sullivan, film and television actor
- Allison Tolman, actress
- Jennifer Vasquez, actress and contestant on season six of Big Brother
- Peter Weber, television personality, pilot, and author; television series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette [7]
- Allen Wier, writer
- Noble Willingham, television and film actor
- Roxanne Wilson, finalist on season five of The Apprentice [8]
- Stephanie Young, voice actress, singer, songwriter
- Man-Ching Donald Yu, composer
Business
- Joe Allbritton, founder and owner of Allbritton Communications Company, the parent company of Politico [9]
- Paul L. Foster, chairman of the board of Western Refining [10]
- Thomas W. Horton, lead director of General Electric's board of directors [11]
- Mark Hurd, CEO and board of directors member of Oracle Corporation
- Michael S. Hyatt, former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, New York Times best-selling author, and founder of Michael Hyatt & Company, an Inc. 5000 fastest growing company for 2017, 2018, and 2019
- Gary Keller, co-founder and chairman of Keller Williams Realty International [12]
- Rebecca Mark, former head of Enron International [13]
- Drayton McLane, chairman of the McLane Group and former owner of the Houston Astros
- Bob J. Perry, founder of Perry Homes
- Marjorie Scardino, CEO of Pearson, a major media group; former CEO of the Economist Group; also a non-executive director of Nokia Corporation [14]
- Bob R. Simpson, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of XTO Energy and co-owner of the Texas Rangers
- Allen Stanford, former chairman of Stanford Financial Group, which operated as a Ponzi scheme, convicted financial fraudster
- A. Latham Staples, president and CEO of EXUSMED, Inc.; chairman of Empowering Spirits Foundation
- Bill Townsend, Internet entrepreneur and founder of the Web search engine Lycos, Inc.
Law
- Charles Barrow, former justice in the Texas Supreme Court and a dean of Baylor Law School [15]
- Leonard E. Davis, United States district judge for the Eastern District of Texas [16]
- Jennifer Walker Elrod, judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit [17]
- Sidney A. Fitzwater, chief United States federal district judge for the Northern District of Texas [18]
- A. J. Folley, justice of the Texas Supreme Court [19]
- James Rodney Gilstrap, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas [20]
- James E. Kinkeade, United States federal judge for Northern District of Texas [21]
- Priscilla Owen, judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth circuit, possible nominee to Supreme Court [22]
- Ryan Patrick, former judge, 177th District Court, former United States attorney for the Southern District of Texas
- Thomas R. Phillips, former chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court [23]
- Tom Price (JD), judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, 1997–2015; judge of the Texas 282nd Court, 1987–1997 [24]
- Walter Scott Smith Jr., chief United States federal judge for the Western District of Texas [25]
- William Steger, long-serving United States federal judge for the Eastern District of Texas, ran unsuccessfully for Texas governor in 1960 and United States House of Representatives in 1962 [26]
- T. John Ward, former United States federal judge for the Eastern District of Texas [27]
- Don Willett, United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit [28]
Media
- Richelle Carey, Al Jazeera America news anchor
- Deb Carson, Fox Sports Radio national sports anchor & co-host
- Beth Haller, journalism professor, Fulbright scholar
- Robert Heard, reporter and journalist for the Associated Press [29] [30]
- Brooklyn McKnight and Bailey McKnight-Howard, YouTubers
- Candice Millard, former National Geographic editor and New York Times best selling author
- Trey Wingo, co-host of ESPN's SportsCenter
- Ben Christie, YouTuber and owner of The Urban Rescue Ranch.
Military
- Clarence R. Autery (BA and LL B, 1957), Air Force general
- O. L. Bodenhamer (BA, 1914; LL D ( hon ), 1930); Army officer during World War I, 12th national commander of American Legion 1929–1930
- John R. Kane (BA, 1928); Army Air Forces Medal of Honor recipient, led bombardment aircraft in mass low-level attack against Ploesti oil refineries in 1943
- Jack Lummus; professional football player with the New York Giants, Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient killed in action at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945
- Charles C. Pixley (MS), 34th surgeon general of the Army 1977–1981
- Gale Pollock (MHA, 1987), deputy surgeon general of the Army 2006–2007
Politics
- James B. Adams, Texas legislator, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation [31]
- Colin Allred, U.S. representative from Texas's 32nd congressional district (2019–present) [32]
- Kip Averitt, former Texas state senator [33]
- Charlotte Beers, businesswoman and former U.S. Under Secretary of State (2001–2003) (attended; did not graduate) [34]
- Charles T. Bernard, Arkansas Republican state chairman, 1971–1973; Republican candidate for United States Senate in 1968; farmer and businessman [35]
- Bob Bullock, lieutenant governor of Texas, Texas comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas secretary of state, Texas state representative [36]
- Joseph Cao, U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district (2009–11), and the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress [37]
- Brad Carson, U.S. representative from Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district (2001–2005) [38]
- Sam Houston Clinton, former Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge; lawyer who represented both atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair and Jack Ruby, the man who shot and killed presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald [39]
- Tom Connally, U.S. senator from Texas (1929–1953) [40]
- David Craighead, former Oklahoman representative [41]
- Bill Daniel, former governor of Guam and Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives [42]
- Price Daniel, governor of Texas 1957–1963 [43]
- Price Daniel Jr., speaker of the Texas House of Representatives (1973–1975) [44]
- John E. Davis (BBA, 1982), Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Houston since 1999
- Craig Eiland, departing state representative and former speaker pro tempore of the Texas House of Representatives [45] [46]
- James Walter Elder, U.S. representative from Louisiana's 5th congressional district (1913–1915) [47]
- Louie Gohmert, U.S. representative from Texas's 1st congressional district [48]
- Trey Gowdy, U.S. representative from South Carolina's 4th congressional district [49]
- Philip Gunn (BBA, 1985), speaker of the House Mississippi (current), first Republican speaker of the House in 136 years[ citation needed ]
- Sam B. Hall, U.S. representative from Texas's 1st congressional district (1976–1985) [50]
- Kelly Hancock, Republican Texas state senator for District 9
- Phil Hardberger, former mayor of San Antonio [51]
- Temple Lea Houston, son of Sam Houston, district attorney, and state legislator [52]
- Andrew J. Houston, U.S. senator from Texas (1941); perennial candidate, and son of Texas statesman Sam Houston [53]
- Ernest Istook, U.S. representative from Oklahoma's 5th congressional district (1993–2007) [54]
- Leon Jaworski, special prosecutor during the Watergate Scandal and one of the first partners of the major international law firm Fulbright & Jaworski [55]
- Brad Knott (BA), U.S. representative from North Carolina's 13th congressional district
- Jeff Leach (BA), state representative from District 67 in the Texas House of Representatives since 2013
- Jim Mattox, U.S. representative from Texas's 5th district (1977–1983), member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 33 (East Dallas), 47th attorney general of Texas 1983–1991
- Julie Myers (BA, 1991), former assistant secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [56]
- Pat Morris Neff, governor of Texas 1921–1925; president of Baylor 1932–1947 [57]
- Lyndon Lowell Olson Jr., former United States ambassador to Sweden and vice chairman of U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy [58] [59]
- Walter P. Paluch Jr., former brigadier general in the United States Air Force [60]
- Diane Patrick, Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Arlington [61]
- Rand Paul, U.S. senator from Kentucky, and son of former Texas Congressman Ron Paul [62]
- Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general (2015–present) and former member of Texas House and Senate [63]
- Angela Paxton, Texas state senator (2019–present) and wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton [63]
- Chip Pickering (MA, 1989), U.S. representative from Mississippi's 3rd congressional district (1995–2007) [64]
- David Pierce, New Hampshire state representative, 2006–2012, and New Hampshire senator, 2012–present [65]
- Larry Phillips (BBA), Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2003 from Sherman, Texas [66]
- William R. Poage, U.S. representative from Texas's 11th congressional district (1937–1979) [67]
- Ann Richards, governor of Texas 1991–1995 [68]
- Sul Ross, governor of Texas 1887–1891 [69]
- J. T. Rutherford, U.S. representative from Texas's 16th congressional district (1955–1963) [70]
- Paul Sadler (BA), former state representative and Democratic U.S. Senate nominee in 2012 [71]
- Ayman Safadi, Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs of Jordan
- Max Sandlin, U.S. representative from Texas's 1st congressional district (1997–2005) [72]
- Scott Sanford (BBA), member of the Texas House of Representatives from McKinney; certified public accountant and Baptist pastor [73]
- Mark M. Shelton (BS, 1979), Fort Worth pediatrician, specialist in infectious diseases, and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 97 (2009–2013) [74]
- Max Sherman (BA, 1957), Texas state senator (1971–1977) and president of West Texas A&M University (1977–1982) [75]
- William S. Sessions, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation [76]
- David M. Sibley, Texas state senator (1991–2002) and former mayor of Waco [77]
- Larry Taylor (BBA, 1982), Republican member of the Texas Senate from District 11 (2013–2023) and Texas House of Representatives from District 24 (2003–2013)
- Alan Steelman, U.S. representative from Texas's 5th congressional district (1973–1977) [78]
- Abelardo L. Valdez, former United States ambassador and Chief of Protocol of the United States [79] [80]
- Jason Villalba, former state representative from District 114 in Dallas County (2013–2019); former candidate for Dallas mayor; member of the Haynes and Boone law firm in Dallas [81]
- Kirk Watson, mayor of Austin (2023–present) and former Texas state senator [82]
- W. Marvin Watson, advisor to President Lyndon Johnson and former Postmaster General [83]
- Mark White, governor of Texas 1983–1987 [84]
- Joseph Franklin Wilson, U.S. representative from Texas's 5th congressional district (1947–1955) [85]
- Gita Wirjawan, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia [86]
Religion
- George Washington Baines, Baptist clergyman in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas; maternal great-grandfather of Lyndon B. Johnson
- B. H. Carroll, first president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Russell H. Dilday, Baptist pastor (Tallowood Baptist Church and others), author, educator, former president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, one of Texas Monthly 's "Texas Twenty"
- James T. Draper, Jr., pastor of First Baptist Euless (1975–1991) and president of Southern Baptist LifeWay Resources (1991–2006)
- Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church (Dallas, Texas)
- Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, womanist theologian and ordained elder in the CME Church
- Kyle Lake, pastor and leader in the Emerging Church movement
- J. Frank Norris, popular fundamentalist Baptist preacher and critic of Baylor's embracing of evolution in the 1920s
- Paul Powell, dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary, pastor, BGCT leader, author
- John R. Rice, Baptist evangelist and pastor; founding editor of The Sword of the Lord , an influential fundamentalist newspaper
- Lester Roloff, fundamentalist Baptist preacher, storyteller, and author
- Kerry Shook, pastor of the Woodlands Church (The Woodlands Texas)
- George W. Truett, pastor of First Baptist Church Dallas 1897–1944, president Baptist World Alliance and Southern Baptist Convention
Science and medicine
- Hallie Earle, first licensed female physician in Waco, 1902 M.S. from Baylor; only female graduate of 1907 Baylor University Medical School in Dallas
- H. Bentley Glass, geneticist and columnist
- James R. Heath, chemist, Elizabeth W. Gilloon Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology
- David Hillis, evolutionary biologist and 1999 MacArthur Fellow
- Robert W. McCollum, virologist who made important discoveries regarding polio and hepatitis [87]
- Rod Rohrich, internationally renown plastic surgeon and Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Ada-Rhodes Short, roboticist, professor, and trans and LGBTQ rights activist
- Norman Shumway, pioneering heart surgeon at Stanford University
- John Stapp, physician and physicist who, among other things, studied the effects of acceleration and deceleration forces on humans
- Gordon K. Teal, worked in early efforts to improve transistors
Athletics
Badminton
- Tan Joe Hok, legendary Indonesian badminton player
Baseball
- Ken Patterson, pitcher, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels (MLB); currently a pitching coach specialist for the Angels [88]
- Pat Combs, pitcher, first round draft pick for the Philadelphia Phillies, played for the Phillies 1989–1992 [89]
- Jason Jennings, pitcher, Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB) [90]
- Ted Lyons, pitcher, Chicago White Sox, 1923–1946, member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame [91]
- Max Muncy, outfielder, 2012 5th round draft pick by the Oakland Athletics; now with the Los Angeles Dodgers [92]
- David Murphy, outfielder, 2003 1st round draft pick by the Boston Red Sox; now with the Texas Rangers [93]
- Scott Ruffcorn, pitcher, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies (MLB) [94]
- Kelly Shoppach, catcher, New York Mets (MLB) [95]
- Bob Simpson, owner of the Texas Rangers and co-founder of XTO Energy [96]
- Shawn Tolleson, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) [97]
- Lee Tunnell, pitcher, 1982–1989, for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Minnesota Twins [98]
- Kip Wells, pitcher, in MLB since 1999 and most recently for the San Diego Padres in 2012 [99]
Men's basketball
- Quincy Acy, power forward for the New York Knicks [100]
- Carroll Dawson, former assistant coach and general manager for the Houston Rockets 1980–2007
- LaceDarius Dunn (born 1987), basketball player in the Israeli National League
- Melvin Hunt, assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks and former interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets [101]
- Pierre Jackson, basketball player
- Curtis Jerrells (born 1987), basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Premier League [102]
- Vinnie Johnson, former player for the Detroit Pistons (1979–1992); nicknamed "The Microwave" for being able to come off the bench heated up and ready to play; his #15 jersey was retired [103] by the Pistons [104]
- Perry Jones III, forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder [105]
- Manu Lecomte (born 1995), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Dennis Lindsey, general manager of the Utah Jazz, [106] former Baylor guard (1988–1992)
- Darryl Middleton, professional player for many European teams (won the 2002 Euroleague Cup) [107]
- Quincy Miller, small forward for the Denver Nuggets [108]
- Johnathan Motley (born 1995), first player in franchise history to sign a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks; player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League [109]
- Royce O'Neale, forward for the Utah Jazz [110]
- Taurean Prince, selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft; forward for the Milwaukee Bucks [111]
- Jackie Robinson, won a gold medal as a guard for the 1948 U.S. Olympic basketball team in London [112]
- Brian Skinner (born 1976), forward for the Los Angeles Clippers [113]
- Terry Teagle, shooting guard for Rockets, Lakers, & Warriors 1982–1993, 16th overall pick (Rockets) in the 1982 NBA draft [114]
- Ekpe Udoh (born 1987), forward for the Beijing Royal Fighters [115]
- Ish Wainright (born 1994), American-Ugandan basketball player in the NBA, and now for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Micheal Williams, former point guard for the Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Toronto Raptors [116]
- David Wesley, 16-year NBA veteran and former guard with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics, and New Jersey Nets; current television color analyst [117] for the New Orleans Pelicans [118]
Women's basketball
- Kalani Brown (born 1997), player in the Israeli Female Basketball Premier League
- Jody Conradt, legendary women's basketball coach at the University of Texas [119]
- Lauren Cox, forward for the Indiana Fever [120]
- Brittney Griner, WNBA first-round draft pick (Phoenix 2013) [121]
- Sonja Hogg, head women's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech and Baylor [122]
- Sheila Lambert, drafted by the Charlotte Sting in the First Round (No. 7 overall) of the 2002 WNBA Draft [123]
- Bernice Mosby, WNBA first-round draft pick (Washington 2007) [124]
- Kim Mulkey, Lady Bear basketball coach; first person in NCAA history to win a basketball national championship as a player, assistant coach, and head coach; won 2 NCAA Championships (2005, 2012) as head coach at Baylor and won the Big 12 regular season championship 9 times (2005, 2011–2018)
- Sophia Young, All-Star forward and 2006 first-round draft pick for the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA [125]
Football
- Walter Abercrombie, NFL running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles
- Riley Biggs, American football center [126]
- Matt Bryant, NFL placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons [127]
- Cody Carlson, NFL quarterback taken in the 3rd round of the 1987 NFL draft for the Houston Oilers (1988–1994) [128]
- Nakia Codie, NFL defensive back
- Ray Crockett, NFL cornerback drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1989, won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos, BU Hall of Fame Class of 2008
- Cotton Davidson, played and coached at Baylor, quarterback in the NFL and AFL [129]
- Paul Dickson, NFL defensive and offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys [130]
- Santana Dotson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman, 1992 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, also played for the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins (1992–2002) [131]
- L.G. Dupre, running back for the Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys [132]
- Thomas Everett, NFL defensive back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987–1995) [133]
- James Francis, NFL linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins (1990–1999) [134]
- Ron Francis, cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots [135]
- Malcolm Frank, Canadian Football League defensive back[ citation needed ]
- Hayden Fry, NCAA Division I-A coach (1962–1998), inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003 [136]
- Terrance Ganaway, running back for the St. Louis Rams [137]
- Kelvin Garmon, offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and the Cleveland Browns [138]
- Lester Gatewood, NFL center for the Green Bay Packers [139]
- Dennis Gentry, NFL running back (1982–1992), selected in the 4th round of the 1982 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears [140]
- David Gettis, 2010 NFL draft 198th overall pick by the Carolina Panthers [141]
- Bill Glass, Round 1 draft pick and defensive tackle with the Detroit Lions (1958–1961) and the Cleveland Browns (1962–1968) [142]
- Josh Gordon, Wide receiver, Drafted in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft by the Cleveland Browns [143]
- Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winning (2011) Baylor quarterback; 2012 NFL draft 2nd overall draft pick by the Washington Redskins [144]
- Greg Hawthorne, NFL running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots [145]
- Heath Herring (attended), football player and wrestler; retired mixed martial artist fighter, formerly for the Ultimate Fighting Championship [146]
- Darrell Hogan, NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers [147]
- Jeff Ireland, kicker at Baylor and general manager of the Miami Dolphins [148]
- Joe Jackson, American football player
- Clay Johnston, linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams [149]
- George Koch, NFL and AAFC player
- Khari Long, defensive end for the Chicago Bears [150]
- James Lynch, defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings [151]
- Gerald McNeil, "The Ice Cube", NFL and USFL wide receiver who played in the 1980s [152]
- Fred Miller, offensive tackle for the St. Louis Rams (1996–1999), Tennessee Titans (2000–2004), and the Chicago Bears (2005–2008) [153]
- Denzel Mims, wide receiver for the New York Jets [154]
- Mike Nelms, All-Pro NFL and CFL defensive back [155]
- J. W. Pender, University of North Texas head coach (1913–1914) [156]
- Luke Prestridge, former all-pro NFL punter with the Denver Broncos [157]
- Robert Quiroga, Arena Football League player [158]
- John B. Reid, University of North Texas head coach[ citation needed ]
- Bravvion Roy, defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers [159]
- Lloyd Russell, University of North Texas head coach (1942); Baylor Bears baseball head coach (1940–1941, 1958–1961) [160]
- Daniel Sepulveda, punter for Pittsburgh Steelers; two time Ray Guy Award winner [161]
- Del Shofner, wide receiver for L.A. Rams (1957–1960), New York Giants (1961–1967); five-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler [162]
- Mike Singletary, linebacker for the Chicago Bears (1981–1992); head coach of the San Francisco 49ers (2008–2010); assistant head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998 [163]
- Jack Sisco, University of North Texas head coach [164]
- Jason Smith, offensive tackle, 2nd overall draft pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2009 NFL draft [165]
- Justin Snow, long snapper signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2000 as an undrafted free agent. A member of the long snapper, holder, kicker trio to not miss a field goal (2003 season)
- Jack Steadman, former chairman, vice president, president and general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs [ citation needed ]
- Phil Taylor, defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns, 21st overall draft pick in 2011 NFL draft [166]
- Don Trull, All-American quarterback at Baylor; played six seasons with the AFL Houston Oilers (1964–1969) [167] [168]
- J. D. Walton, offensive center for the Denver Broncos [169]
- Danny Watkins, offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, 23rd overall draft pick in 2011 NFL draft [170]
- John Westbrook, first African American to play football in the Southwest Conference [171]
- Robert Williams, cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, Phoenix Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs [172]
- Terrance Williams, wide receiver, 2013 NFL draft 74th overall draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys [173]
- Bob Woodruff, former head coach at the University of Florida and former athletic director of the University of Tennessee
- Kendall Wright, wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, 20th overall draft pick in 2012 NFL draft [174]
Golf
- Jason Hill, golfer
- Jimmy Walker, PGA Tour, [175] PGA Championship winner
Gymnastics
- Kiara Nowlin, member of the U.S. Junior National Trampoline and Tumbling Team, three-time gold medalist at the World Age Games, three-time gold medalist at The Cheerleading Worlds
Tennis
- Benjamin Becker, German professional player; defeated Andre Agassi in Agassi's final match in the 2006 U.S. Open [176] [177]
- Benedikt Dorsch, German professional player
- John Peers, Australian professional player
Track and field
- Trayvon Bromell, first junior to surpass the 10-second barrier for the 100 meters; had a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team
- Michael Johnson, winner of five Olympic gold medals and nine-time world champion [178]
- KC Lightfoot, placed fourth in the pole vault at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Jeremy Wariner, winner of gold medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece for the individual 400 meter and the 4 × 400 meter [179]
- Darold Williamson, winner of a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece in the 4 × 400 meter [180]
- Reggie Witherspoon, winner of a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing for the 4 × 400 meter along with teammate Jeremy Wariner [181]
Volleyball
- Laura Daniela Lloreda, Mexican/Puerto Rican player [182]
