- Darrin Horn
Darrin Horn played for the Western Kentucky University men's basketball team from 1991-1995. He is currently the head coach of the men's basketball team at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Horn is married to the former Carla Walker of Glasgow, Kentucky. The couple has two children.
- Clem Haskins
Clem Smith Haskins (born August 11, 1943 in Campbellsville, Kentucky) is a former professional basketball player who later served 13 years (1986-1999) as head coach of the University of Minnesota's men's basketball team. The son of sharecroppers, Haskins was a star at Taylor County High School in rural Kentucky. He wanted to play for Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky, but Rupp ignored him, allegedly because Haskins was black, …
- Jody Richards
Jody Richards is a politician from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He currently serves as Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives. Richards, who began his career as a teacher at Western Kentucky University, first ran for office in 1975, when he won the 20th District seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives, a position he holds to this day. While still in his first term, Speaker Richards was called upon to chair the House’s Education Committee.
- Hal Rogers
Harold Dallas "Hal" Rogers (born December 31 1937), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1981, representing the. His office is currently located in Somerset. Rogers was born in Monticello, Kentucky, was educated at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green and the University of Kentucky at Lexington, having received a law degree. Rogers served in the Kentucky and North Carolina Army National Guard.
- Kenny Perry
James Kenneth Perry (born August 10, 1960) is an American professional golfer. Perry was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, but lived most of his formative years in Franklin, Kentucky, in Simpson County. He started high school at Franklin-Simpson High School, but transferred to Lone Oak High School in McCracken County, Kentucky, when his father's job took him to work in Paducah, Kentucky. Kenny graduated from Lone Oak High School and attended Western Kentucky University.
- Michael Rosenbaum
Michael Owen Rosenbaum (born July 11, 1972) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Lex Luthor on "Smallville". Continuing in the comic book genre, he voiced Wally West (a.k.a. The Flash) in the DC Comics animated series "Justice League". Rosenbaum has also done film and other voiceover work. In February of 2007, Rosenbaum confirmed that he would be leaving Smallville after the show's 7th season.
- Charles H. Smith
Charles H. Smith, born 30 September 1950 at Winsted, Connecticut USA, is a professor and science librarian at Western Kentucky University (WKU). He is best known for his work as a historian of science on Alfred Russel Wallace. He created and maintains the website "The Alfred Russel Wallace Page" hosted by WKU and devoted to Wallace scholarship, which includes a comprehensive bibliography of Wallace's publications and interviews, texts of many of Wallace's works, …
- Lowell H. Harrison
Lowell Hayes Harrison is an American Historian specializing in Kentucky. Harrison graduated from College High (Bowling Green, Kentucky). He received a B.A. from Western Kentucky University in 1946, then enrolled at New York University where he earned an M.A. in 1947 and a PhD in 1951, both in history. He then attended the London School of Economics on a Fulbright Scholarship. His first regular teaching position was at West Texas State College as an associate professor.
- Ralph Willard
Ralph Willard is an American college head coach of men's basketball. He is currently head coach at the College of the Holy Cross. His first collegiate head coaching position began at Western Kentucky University in 1990. He was a high school coach prior to that with 19 years experience. After a one-year as an assistant at the Merchant Marine Academy (1971-1972), he served 13 seasons as the head coach of his high school alma mater, St. Dominic (Oyster Bay, New York).
- Romeo Crennel
Romeo Crennel most recently served as the head coach of the NFL's Cleveland Browns . On December 29, 2008, the Cleveland Browns fired Crennel. This comes one day after the Browns completed the 2008 season with a 4-12 record. General manager Phil Savage was dismissed the previous day as well. 1
- Jack Harbaugh
Jack Harbaugh is a former college football head coach. From 1982 to 1986, he served in this capacity at Western Michigan University and compiled a 26-26-3 record. From 1989 to 2002, he led the Western Kentucky University and posted a 91-68 record, including three 10-win seasons during his tenure there and the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA national football championship. Harbaugh has also served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan and Stanford University.
- Billy Vaughn
Richard "Billy" Vaughn (April 12, 1919 - September 26, 1991) was a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and orchestra leader. He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments. In 1941 Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, …
- James R. Ramsey
Dr James R. Ramsey is the current president of the University of Louisville, located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. He became the school's acting president on August 1, 2002 and was named the permanent president on November 4, 2002. Besides twice serving as Kentucky's budget director and working as the state's chief economist, Ramsey has also directed Kentucky's Office of Financial Management, been the state's chief Economic Analyst, …
- Thomas Nicholson
Thomas Nicholson is a health educator and epidemiologist. He has coordinated the DRUGNET Study, an on-line survey of adult drug users. He earned his M.P.H. in at the University of Texas School of Public Health and his Ph.D. in at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He also earned an M.A.Ed. in counseling from Western Kentucky University.
- Matt Long
Matt Long (born May 18, 1980) is an American actor. Long was born in Winchester, Kentucky. He played the teenaged Jack McCallister on "Jack & Bobby" and the younger Johnny Blaze in "Ghost Rider". Long attended Western Kentucky University where he met his wife. He was also a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After graduation, Matt moved to New York City where he worked as an actor throughout various theatres. He now resides in Hollywood, California
- Chris Turner
Christopher Wan Turner (born March 23, 1969, in Bowling Green, Kentucky) was a Major League Baseball catcher. He is an alumnus of Western Kentucky University. Drafted by the California Angels in the 7th round of the 1991 MLB amateur draft, Turner would make his Major League Baseball debut with the California Angels on August 27, 1993, and appear in his final game on October 1, 2000.
- Jeremi Johnson
Jeremi Johnson (born September 4, 1980 in Louisville, Kentucky) is an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. Johnson was a standout for Ballard High School, rushing for over 2,000 yards and scoring 35 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons. As a collegiate player, Jeremi Johnson played his first three seasons at Indiana University, where he was named to the All-Big Ten Conference freshman team in 1999.) However, in 2002, …
- Tellis Frank
Tellis Joseph Frank Jr. (born April 26 1965 in Gary, Indiana) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 1st round (14th overall pick) in the 1987 NBA Draft from Western Kentucky University. Frank played for the Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves during his five-year NBA career averaging 6.5 points per game. His played as a power forward.
- Tom Marshall
John Thomas (Tom) Marshall (born January 6 1931) is a former basketball player and coach. He was a star at Western Kentucky University in the 1950s, where he was a 2-time All-American. A 6'4" forward, he was drafted by the Rochester Royals with the 7th pick of the 1954 NBA Draft. In a four-year NBA career, he played for both the Royals (in both Rochester and Cincinnati), as well as for the Detroit Pistons.
- Mel Mitchell
Mel Mitchell (born February 10, 1979 in Rockledge, Florida) is an American football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He attended Western Kentucky University, starting all 36 games and totaling 288 tackles, seven interceptions, 1.5 sacks, 21 passes defensed, and returned 20 kickoffs.
- Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore is a fantasy artist. Larry Elmore grew up in rural Kentucky. Although fantasy art was not a line of study at the time, Larry knew that he wanted to work in a field different from the norm that was offered at Western Kentucky University. It was the Celts and Celtic influence that led him into fantasy artwork. In 1971 he received his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, married and was drafted into the army all within 4 months.
- Larnelle Harris
Larnelle Harris is a Gospel singer, songwiter and recording artist. During his 30-plus years of ministry, Harris has recorded 18 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards, and has had several recordings rise to #1 on Inspirational Music charts. A native of Danville, Kentucky, Harris started playing the piano by age 9. His first formal vocal training came when he attended college at Western Kentucky University, from which he graduated in 1969.
- Clarence Glover
Clarence Glover (born November 1 1947 in Horse Cave, Kentucky) is a retired American NBA basketball player from 1971-1973. Glover is 6'8" and 210 lb. He led the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to the NCAA Final Four in 1971. The Hilltoppers eventually lost to the Villanova Wildcats 92-89 in double overtime. He was drafted #10 in the 1971 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. He was #28 in the NBA and averaged 2.0 ppg in 3.3 mpg.
- Russell E. Dougherty
General Russell Elliott Dougherty was commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command and director of strategic target planning (Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff), at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. General Dougherty was born in Glasgow, Kentucky in 1920. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, the Law School of the University of Louisville and the National War College.
- Beegie Adair
Beegie Adair (born Cave City, Kentucky in 1936) is a jazz pianist originally from Kentucky. She studied piano at Western Kentucky University and worked on The Johnny Cash Show. After that experience she moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she lives today. She has more than 20 recordings to her name.
- Nikki McCray
Nikki McCray (born December 17, 1971 in Collierville, Tennessee) is a former American professional basketball player. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eight seasons. A 5'11" guard from the University of Tennessee, McCray was a member of the Washington Mystics, the Indiana Fever, the Phoenix Mercury, the San Antonio Silver Stars, and the Chicago Sky. She was named to three WNBA All-Star teams (in 1999, 2000, …
- K. C. Armstrong
Kyle Casey (K.C.) Armstrong (born July 17, 1975) is an actor, amateur bodybuilder, model, and comedian. He grew up in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. His father was the head wrestling coach at Port Jefferson High School. He was formerly a quarterback for the Western Kentucky University football team, and associate producer and on-air personality on The Howard Stern Radio Show. During the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City, …
- David Darling
David Darling (born March 3, 1941) is a cellist and composer. He has performed and recorded with artists such as Bobby McFerrin and Spyro Gyra in addition to putting out several solo and small ensemble albums as well as albums of his compositions. Born in Elkhart, Indiana, Darling began studying cello at 10 and continued on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Indiana University.
- Darel Carrier
James Darel Carrier (born October 26, 1940 in Warren County, Kentucky) is a former professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard from Western Kentucky University, he was selected in the 9th round of the 1964 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. However, Carrier never played for the Hawks, joining instead the Kentucky Colonels of the rival American Basketball Association (ABA). He was a three-time ABA All-Star with the Colonels (1968, 1969, …
- Darnell Mee
LaFarrell Darnell Mee (born February 11 1971, in Cleveland, Tennessee) is an American-Australian basketball player and former National Basketball Association player. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 34th overall pick (2nd round) of the 1993 NBA Draft. Mee, who played college basketball at Western Kentucky University for three seasons, played in the NBA for two seasons with the Denver Nuggets. He also played in the CBA for the Yakima Sun Kings, …
- Kannard Johnson
Kannard Johnson (born June 24 1965, in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American former National Basketball Association player. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 41st overall pick (2nd round) of the 1987 NBA Draft. Johnson, who played college basketball at Western Kentucky University, appeared in four games with the Cavaliers in the 1987-88 NBA season.
- Gene Rhodes
Eugene (Gene) Stephen Rhodes (born September 2 1927) is a retired American basketball player and coach. Rhodes played college basketball at Western Kentucky University. While Rhodes was a player, Western Kentucky won the Ohio Valley Conference championship in 1949, 1950 and 1951, playing in the National Invitational Tournament in each of those seasons. Rhodes played in the NBA for the Indianapolis Olympians. Rhodes was later head basketball coach at Louisville St.
- Terrence W. Wilcutt
Terrence Wade Wilcutt (born 31 October 1949) is an American astronaut and a veteran of four space shuttle missions. Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Wilcutt earned a degree in mathematics from Western Kentucky University and taught high school math for two years before entering the United States Marine Corps. He trained as a pilot and flew the F/A-18 before being assigned to the Naval Aircraft Test Center, where he worked on classified aircraft programs.
- Jack Keane
John (Jack) Keane (born 1945) is a retired four-star general and former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and a defense analyst. Keane attended Fordham University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1966. He then attended Western Kentucky University, graduating with a master's degree in philosophy. He then attended Army War College and the Command and General Staff College. Keane served in the Vietnam War as a paratrooper.
- Kevin Willard
Kevin Willard (born April 6, 1975 in Huntington, New York) is the head men's basketball coach at Iona College. He took over for the fired Jeff Ruland on April 10, 2007. Willard came to Iona after spending ten years as an assistant under Rick Pitino. He started his coaching career in the NBA ranks, working on the bench with the Boston Celtics. After Pitino resigned from the Celtics in 2001, Willard followed him to Louisville, …
- Harry Gray
Harry Barkus Gray is currently the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry and Founding Director of the Beckman Institute at the California Institute of Technology. He received his B. S. from Western Kentucky University (1957) and his Ph.D. in 1960 with Fred Basolo at Northwestern University. Professor Gray's interdisciplinary research program addresses a wide range of fundamental problems in inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics.
- Anthony Oakley
Anthony Oakley (born August 16, 1981) is currently an offensive tackle on the Chicago Bears practice squad. He was signed as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2004, before being cut and signed to the Bears practice squad on September 4, 2005. He attended Western Kentucky University.
- Matt Kilcullen
Matt Kilcullen is the head men's basketball coach at the University of North Florida. He previously held the same position at Western Kentucky University and Jacksonville University
- Chris Carmichael
Chris Carmichael is a musician and arranger born in San Antonio, Texas on July 6, 1962. The son of an Air Force fighter pilot, Chris moved extensively before taking up the violin while living in Hampton, Virginia. After moving to Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1975, he entered into more formal training - studying violin with Western Kentucky University professor Betty Pease (a former student of Ivan Galamian) for eight years.
- Steve Gorman
Steve Gorman (born 17 August, 1965, Muskegon, Michigan) is a musician best known as the drummer of the American hard rock band The Black Crowes. He also spent some time as drummer for British rock band The Stereophonics. Moving to Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1975, Gorman began drumming in school in the fourth grade by playing snare in his school elementary band. Like so many others, Steve was initially inspired and moved when he first listened to the Beatles.