This is a list of notable people associated with the University of Kentucky in the United States.
Name | Years attended/ degree received | Notability | Reference |
---|
| PhD 1966 | | [1] |
| BA 1954 | | [2] |
| BS 1961 | | [3] |
| BA 1948, MA 1949 | Professor of Psychology at the University of Kentucky; UFO skeptic | [4] |
| MS 1956 | | [5] |
| PhD 1980 | | [6] |
| MS 1948 | | [7] |
| BA 1923 | | [8] |
| post-doctoral studies 1979-80 | David H. Eisenberg Professor of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel | [9] |
Amy L. Bondurant | BA 1973 | Former U.S. Ambassador to the OECD | [10] |
| MS 1994 | | [11] |
| MA 1951, PhD 1956 | | [12] |
| R 1991 | Director of Research at the New York University Child Research Center | [13] |
| PhD 1980 | | [14] |
| BS | | [15] |
| 1961–1962 (did not graduate) | | [16] |
| BS 1995 | Software engineer | [17] |
| PhD 1980 | | [18] |
| BS 1977, MS 1978, PhD 1981 | | [19] |
| BS 1966, MA 1968 | | [20] |
| BA 1990, MA 1993 | | [21] |
| PhD 1968 | | [22] |
| PhD 1972 | | [23] |
| PharmD 1981 | Dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy | [24] |
| BS 1971 | Herpetologist and conservationist | [25] |
| MA 1963, PhD 1966 | | [26] |
| BS 1914, LLD 1933 | | [27] |
| PhD 1997 | | [28] |
| MA 1963, PhD 1967 | | [29] |
Lori Stewart Gonzalez | B.A. | 23rd President of Ohio University | [30] |
Virginia Griffing | BS, 1937 | Physicist and chemist; first woman on the faculty of Catholic University of America's physics department | [31] |
Bradlee L. Heckmann | BS 2009 | Neuroimmunologist and cell biologist | [32] |
Edward H. Kass | AB 1939; MS 1941 | physician, medical school professor, medical researcher in infectious diseases, medical journal editor, and historian of medicine | [33] |
| AB 1926 | | [34] |
| AB 1960 | | [35] |
| PhD 1994 | | [36] |
| PhD 1970 | Sociologist, historian, and activist | [37] |
| BS 1941 | | [38] |
| MLS 1971 | | [39] |
Anne Hazen McFarland, M.D. | | Physician and medical journal editor | [40] |
| BS 1886 | | [41] |
| BS 1870, MS 1893, DSc 1906 | Horticulturalist | [42] |
| BS 1968 | Former president of the University of Kentucky; inventor; entrepreneur | [43] |
| BA 1974 | | [44] |
|
Name | Years attended/ degree received | Notability | Reference |
---|
| BS 2008 | Actress and model | [54] |
Sara Bradley | | Chef | [55] |
| BA 2013 | Miss Kentucky 2014 | [56] |
| BS 2000 | Model | [57] |
| MA | Auctioneer and appraiser for Antiques Roadshow and History Detectives | [58] |
| (did not graduate) | Actor | [59] |
| BA 2018 | Miss Kentucky 2015 | [60] |
| BA 2014 | Miss Kentucky 2013 | [61] |
| BA 1977 | Songwriter, recording artist, composer, film and television producer, and entrepreneur | [62] [63] |
| BA 1998 | Screenwriter | [64] |
Miss Elizabeth | BA | | [65] |
| (did not graduate) | Composer and pianist | [66] |
| 2015 | On-air TV sports anchor | [67] |
| BA 2007 | Actress; celebrity fan of the Wildcats (men's) basketball team | [68] |
| BM 1994 | Percussionist and composer, best known as drummer for Chicago rock band Wilco; named the 41st greatest drummer of all time by Gigwise in 2008 | [69] |
| AB 1946 | | [70] |
| MM, 2003 | Singer, actress, Royal Pains | [71] |
| | Actor known for playing Roman Grant on Big Love | |
| | Actress, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | |
| BM 2003 | Musician, singer-songwriter | [72] |
| BA 1988 | Theater producer, director, and educator | [73] |
|
Name | Years attended/ degree received | Notability | Reference |
---|
| MA 1988 | | [146] [147] |
| JD 2008 | | [148] |
Danny Bentley | BS PharmD | Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives | [149] |
| BS 1988, MPA 1991, JD 1998 | | [150] [151] |
| MD 1978 | | [152] |
| JD 1992 | Former Secretary of State of Kentucky | [153] |
| BS 1974 | | [154] |
| BA 1998, JD 2004 | | [155] |
| BS 1940 | | [156] |
| BA | Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives | [157] |
Kelly Knight Craft (née Guilfoil) | BA 1984 | | [158] |
| JD 1974 | Former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives | [159] |
| BA, MBA | Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives | [160] |
| 1883 | US Representative-elect, died before taking the oath | [161] |
| 1972 | Former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives | [162] |
| BS 1957 | Former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives | [163] |
| BA 1975 | | [164] |
| JD 1974 | | [165] |
| JD 2003 | | [166] |
| | Auditor of Public Accounts for Kentucky | [167] |
| JD 1929 | | [168] [169] |
| BA 1989 | | [170] |
| (did not graduate) | | [171] |
| BA 1974, JD 1977 | | [172] |
Sara Beth Gregory | BA 2003, JD 2007 | | [173] |
| JD 1982 | | [174] |
| 1969 | | [175] [176] |
| BA, MA | Former state representative from Taylor and Adair counties | [177] |
| MD 1986 | | [178] |
| JD 1981 | Former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky | [179] |
| BS 1974, JD 1977 | Two-term State Senator of Kentucky (1991 - 98), family court circuit judge (2004 - present) | [180] |
| BS 1963 | Four-term member of the Kentucky House of Representatives (1976 - 84), Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts (1984 - 88) | [181] |
| MA 1999 | | [182] [183] |
| BS 1962 | Kentucky State Senator (1976–92); party floor leader (1981–92); 1996 party nominee for U.S. Congress; businessman | [184] |
Debbie Warner | BS | Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates | [185] | |
Name | Years attended | Notable for |
---|
(basketball) | Derek Anderson | width=100px | 1994–97 | Former NBA player (2005–06 NBA champion) |
| 2002–2005 | Former NBA Golden State Warriors player |
| 2016–2017 | 14th pick in the 2017 NBA draft, NBA player for the Miami Heat |
| 2009–2010 | One of five first-round picks from UK in the 2010 NBA draft and current player for the Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1999–2003 | Former NBA player |
| 2014–2015 | NBA player for the Phoenix Suns, 2018 3 point champion |
| 1979–1984 | 2nd pick in 1984 NBA draft (ahead of Michael Jordan) |
| 2015–2017 | NBA player |
| 2004–2008 | Playing for Hapoel Holon in the Israeli Super League[224] |
| | Former Minnesota Timberwolves; current head coach for the Detroit Pistons |
| 1986–1988 | Former NBA player and first-ever draft choice in Charlotte Hornets franchise history |
| MS 1967 | Basketball coach for the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team[225] |
| 2009–2010 | |
| 2004–2008 | Former NBA New York Knicks player; 2nd round draft; 58th pick overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1965–1967 | Played for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA; scored the most points in ABA history |
| 2000–2004 | NBDL Fayetteville Patriots player |
| 2011–2012 | Consensus men's college player of the year in 2011–12; now in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers[226] |
| 1992–1996 | Former NBA player |
| 2007–2011 | WNBA player with the Washington Mystics |
| N/A | 1948 Olympic basketball gold medalists |
| 1988–1992 | Never played professional basketball; former Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, 2003–2011; spent two years in federal prison for crimes committed while Commissioner of Agriculture |
| 2000–2004 | TBL Galatasaray Cafe Crown player |
| 1990–1994 | Oklahoma State University men's basketball head coach |
| 2016–2017 | 5th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, NBA player for the Sacramento Kings |
| 1974–1978 | 1978 NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player |
| 1972–1975 | Former NBA player |
| 2008–2011 | Former NBA player |
| 2001–2005 | Former NBA player |
| 2018–2019 | 13th pick in the 2019 NBA draft, NBA player for the Miami Heat |
| 1966–1970 | All-time leading men's scorer and former Denver Nuggets head coach |
| 2010–12 | Former NBA player |
Enes Kanter Freedom | 2010–2011 | 3rd pick in the 2011 NBA draft and current player for the Boston Celtics |
| 2011–2012 | |
| 2010–2011 | 8th pick in the 2011 NBA draft and current player for the Dallas Mavericks |
| 2010–2012 | Former NBA player |
| 1975-1978 | Second round draft pick and former CBA player |
| 2014–2015 | NBA player for the Sacramento Kings |
| 2015–2016 | NBA player |
| 1976–1979 | Former Morehead State University men's basketball head coach |
| 1996–2000 | Former NBA player |
| 1990–1993 | Former NBA All-Star; current ESPN basketball analyst |
| 1996–2000 | Current head coach at Manhattan College |
| 1992–1996 | Former NBA player; current assistant coach at the University of Louisville |
| 1995–1997 | Current NBA free agent who has played with seven different teams |
| 2016–2017 | 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, NBA player for the Sacramento Kings |
| 2008–2012 | Former NBA player; currently playing in Germany with Brose Baskets |
| 1979–1983 | Former NBA player |
| 1995–1998 | Former NBA player; member of the 2004–05 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs |
| 2004–2007 | Former NBA player |
| 2015–2016 | 7th pick in the 2016 NBA draft for the Denver Nuggets, holds the record for most consecutive games with a three pointer |
| 1961–1964 | Former NBA player and MLB outfielder |
| 2012–2013 | 6th pick in the 2013 NBA draft |
| 1936–1939 | All-American basketball player for the Wildcats and professional player |
| 2009–2010 | One of five first-round picks from UK in the 2010 NBA draft |
| 1994–1999 | Former NBA and ACB player; current head coach at Samford University |
| 2007–2010 | One of five first-round picks from UK in the 2010 NBA draft |
| 1988–1992 | Current assistant at the University of Florida; former head coach at the University of Arkansas |
| 1975–1978 | Third Round draft pick and former Liga ACB player |
| 1993–1996 | Former NBA player; current head coach at the University of Kentucky |
| 2012–2016 | American-Ivorian basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier Basketball League, former NBA player |
| 1998–2002 | Former NBA player; member of the 2003–04 NBA champion Detroit Pistons |
| 1950–1954 | Seven-time NBA champion |
| 2013–2014 | NBA player for the New York Knicks |
| 1963–1967 | NBA Miami Heat former coach, and current team president; coached the 2005–06 NBA champion Miami Heat |
| 1975-1978 | Third overall draft pick in 1978; played with the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, and Phoenix Suns; member of the Celtics' 1981 NBA Championship team |
| 2004–2006 | NBA Cleveland Cavaliers player; member of the 2007–08 NBA champion Boston Celtics and 2019-20 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers |
| | Israeli Basketball Premier League player |
| 1993–1998 | 1998 NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player |
| 1979–1983 | Leading scorer in UK basketball history, male or female; played professionally in Europe and the ABL before briefly playing for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA; younger sister of UK football great Art Still |
| 2011–2012 | Former NBA player |
| 2014–2015 | 1st pick of the 2015 NBA draft; current player for the Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 1995–1999 | ANBL New Zealand Breakers player; ended his UK career as the all-time NCAA leader in games played (record since surpassed) |
| 2014–2016 | NBA player |
| BS 1998 | Former head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers[227] |
| 1994–1996 | Former NBA player; member of the 2005–06 NBA champion Miami Heat |
| 1982–1986 | 1985–1986 All-American and 5th pick in the 1986 NBA draft |
| 2009–2010 | 1st pick of the 2010 NBA draft; current player for the Houston Rockets[228] |
| | Former NBA player |
| 2013–2017 | Former NBA player |
| 1988–1992 | Former head coach at Morehead State University |
| | NBA player; 2019–2020 top scorer in the Israel Basketball Premier League | |
Name | Years attended | Notable for |
---|
width=200px | Derek Abney | width=100px | | NFL, former Chicago Bears wide receiver |
| 2015–2018 | Current outside linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars |
| | American Football League MVP, 1961, two-time AFL champ, and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| | Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback |
| | Gridiron football offensive tackle |
| | Former offensive coordinator at Troy University, Texas Tech, and UK; current head coach at Troy |
| | Former NFL Indianapolis Colts defensive end |
| 1946–1950 | Former head football coach |
| 2008–2011 | Current wide receiver and return specialist with the Green Bay Packers; first person born in the 1990s to play in the NFL |
| 1996–1999 | Former Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback |
| 2017–2020 | Linebacker; drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Washington Football Team |
| | Former NFL offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers; inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012 |
| | Former CFL offensive lineman |
| | Former NFL running back |
| | NFL Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver |
| | Arena Football League player |
| 2014–2016 | Former NFL and current CFL defensive lineman |
| | Former San Francisco 49ers defensive end; currently with the Lexington Horsemen |
| | Former NFL defensive tackle |
| | Professional football player |
| | Former New York Giants quarterback |
| | NFL player |
| | Former punter for the Green Bay Packers; Super Bowl XLV Champion |
| | Former San Diego Chargers, current Denver Broncos safety |
| | Former NFL center |
| | Three-time American Football League all-star and 1968 Super Bowl champ |
| 1981–1985 | Former wide receiver for the Washington Redskins and the CFL's Toronto Argonauts; former UK head coach |
| | Former Minnesota Vikings running back |
| 1974–1978 | Former tight end for three NFL teams; athletic director at Coppin State University, 2008–2015; Kentucky Secretary of Labor, 2015–present |
| | Former New York Jets, former Denver Broncos defensive tackle |
| | Retired football coach, most recently with Florida Atlantic; former head coach of the NFL's Baltimore Colts, and of Miami, Louisville, and Oklahoma in the college ranks |
| | Former Kansas City Chiefs player and 4-time Pro Bowler; older brother of Valerie Still (see basketball alumni) |
| | Former Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman and 6-time Pro Bowler |
| | Former Minnesota Vikings running back |
| | Former Dallas Cowboys kicker |
| | NFL and CFL player |
| 1995–1998 | Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver | |
Name | Years attended | Notable for |
---|
| BA 1942 | Player-coach for the Wildcats[229] |
| | Former Major League Baseball pitcher; member of the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies, winner of Game 4 of the 2008 World Series |
| 1971–1973 | Outfielder for the Oakland Athletics[230] |
| | Former Major League Baseball outfielder, 2011–2016 |
| | Major League Baseball umpire |
| 2011–2013 | Pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, and formerly the Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants, and Milwaukee Brewers |
| | Former Major League Baseball player with the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks, and manager of the San Diego Padres |
| | Second baseman for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs |
| | Former Major League Baseball player, most notably for the New York Yankees |
| | Catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, and formerly the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays |
| | Former Major League Baseball umpire |
| 2011–2014 | Minor League Baseball player in the Houston Astros organization; consensus NCAA Division I player of the year in 2014 |
| | Former Major League Baseball pitcher |
| | Former Major League Baseball pitcher, 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner | |