Texas Christian University has more than 90,000 living alumni. Following is a list of notable Texas Christian University alumni by profession.
Academia
James Cash Jr. – professor emeritus at Harvard Business School, former James E. Robison Professor of Business Administration Bobby Chesney – John Jeffers Research Chair in Law, Honorable James A. Baker III Chair in the Rule of Law and World Affairs, dean of University of Texas at Austin School of Law Flynt Leverett – counterterrorism scholar and professor at the Penn State School of International Affairs Jim Ranchino – pollster, political consultant, and political scientist on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas Jeff Sebo – moral philosopher, associate professor, and director of Animal Studies at New York University; author of The Moral Circle Miles Smith – historian and associate professor at Hillsdale College
Art
Glenda Green – artist; author of Love Without End, Jesus Speaks (1998) Mary McCleary – contemporary artist with works in numerous public collections
Business
Brian Alvey – co-founder of Weblogs, Inc.; serial entrepreneur Beverley Bass (BA '74) – former American Airlines pilot; first female American Airlines captain and captain of the first all-female commercial jet airliner crew Kyle Bass – principal and founder of Hayman Capital Management John Davis – billionaire entrepreneur; 1-800-Flowers founder Kathryn Farmer – CEO and president of BNSF Railway since 2021; first female CEO of a Class I railroad Elliott Hill – president & CEO of Nike, Inc., member of TCU Board of Trustees Maciej Kranz – Cisco Systems vice president of innovation
Education
Leon Breeden – clarinetist and founder of the "Lab Band" program at the University of North Texas James Cash Jr. – former chairman of Harvard MBA program; senior associate dean and chairman of HBS Publishing; on boards of GE and Microsoft Theresa A. Powell – vice president of academic affairs at Temple University; president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Elizabeth MacLeod Walls – 15th president of William Jewell College; 14th president of Washington & Jefferson College
Entertainment Norman Alden – actor with a fifty-year career in movies and television, mostly in voice roles and small parts Cecil Brower – Western swing pioneer Betty Buckley – Tony Award-winning actress best known for playing Grizabella in the musical Cats Jeremy Culhane – television actor on Saturday Night Live, Dropout and Heathers Corby Davidson (attended 1988–1991, did not graduate) – Dallas/Fort Worth sports radio personality with The Ticket 1310am Cynthia Dobrinski – handbell composer and clinician Kelli Finglass – Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, television personality, television producer Frederic Forrest – actor John Gilliland – radio broadcaster who created the Pop Chronicles music documentary Skip Hollandsworth – journalist; screenwriter; Executive Editor of Texas Monthly magazine Kristin Holt – television personality; former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader; finalist on the original American Idol Daniel Hunter – known for his music project, Analog Rebellion (formerly PlayRadioPlay!) Benton Jennings – actor in theatre, movies, television, and commercials James Kerwin – film and theater director Curtis King – founder of Black Academy of Arts and Letters Chris Klein – film actor, American Pie, We Were Soldiers Once, And Young, Rollerball Wendy Powell – voice actress Tudi Roche – actress Rod Roddy – former The Price Is Right announcer Bob Schieffer – journalist with CBS News since 1969 and host of Face the Nation Travis Schuldt – television actor on Passions, 10-8: Officers on Duty and Scrubs Sarah Rose Summers – Miss USA 2018 Rob Thomas – writer, Veronica Mars and Rats Saw God Nina Vance – founder, Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas Stephanie Vander Werf – model, TV presenter and beauty pageant contestant; Miss Panama 2012; represented Panama at the Miss Universe 2012 Shantel VanSanten – actress, One Tree Hill, Final Destination 4, You and I Van Williams – television actor on Bourbon Street Beat, Surfside 6, and the Green Hornet Travis Willingham – voice actor Peggy Willis-Aarnio – ballet historian
Law
Tim Curry – district attorney for Tarrant County from 1972 until his death in 2009 S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. – chief judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Zuberi Williams – associate judge, Maryland District Court (2015–present)
Military
Horace S. Carswell Jr. – recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor Gordon R. England (MBA '75) – 71st & 73rd secretary of the Navy; deputy secretary of defense (2005–2009)
Music
Leon Breeden – clarinetist and founder of the Lab Band program at the University of North Texas Mario Cruz – saxophone player, played with Bruce Springsteen and Jaco Pastorius among others Don Gillis – composer, producer for the NBC Symphony Orchestra during the tenure of its conductor Arturo Toscanini John Giordano – saxophonist, composer, and conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Clyde Hurley – jazz trumpeter soloist in "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller Band John Knowles – guitarist William Lewis – opera singer William Walker – Metropolitan Opera baritone
Politics
Dan Boren – former U.S. representative from Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district Israel B. Curtis – Louisiana politician, did graduate studies at TCU Wendy Davis – 2014 candidate for Texas governor; former state senator in the Texas Senate Hou Chong-wen – deputy mayor of Chiayi City, Taiwan Eddie Bernice Johnson (B.S. 1967) – U.S. representative, Texas 30th congressional district Kyle Kacal (Certificate in Ranch Management) – member of the Texas House of Representatives from College Station since 2013 Lois Kolkhorst (Class of 1988) – member of the Texas Senate since 2014 and former member of the Texas House of Representatives Mike Lang – member of Texas House of Representatives since 2017 Tommy Merritt – former member of Texas House of Representatives and candidate for Texas Department of Agriculture Thomas Pressly – member of the Louisiana Senate since 2024 and former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives Winthrop Paul Rockefeller – former lieutenant governor of Arkansas 1996–2006 John Roger Williams – U.S. representative and former secretary of state of Texas
Sports Scott Ankrom – former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jake Arrieta – MLB pitcher Baltimore Orioles (2010–13), Chicago Cubs (2013–2017), Philadelphia Phillies (2018–2020) Ronnie Baker – sprinter Desmond Bane – NBA, selected 30th overall in the 2020 NBA draft, selected for Rising Stars Challenge at 2022 NBA All-Star Game Pat Batteaux – former NFL player Sammy Baugh – 1935 Heisman Trophy finalist; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Josh Boyce – wide receiver, New England Patriots Scott Brooks – former NBA point guard and current Oklahoma City Thunder head coach; won Coach of the Year Award 2010 Larry Brown – former cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders, and Super Bowl XXX MVP David Caldwell – former nose tackle for the Green Bay Packers Tank Carder – 2011 Rose Bowl defensive MVP; linebacker for the Cleveland Browns Matt Carpenter – MLB All-Star for the St. Louis Cardinals Andrew Cashner – pitcher for the Miami Marlins Ron Clinkscale – quarterback, Canadian Football League Bill Collins – Masters Athletics world record holder Roosevelt Collins – former NFL player Charles Coody – PGA golf professional, Class of 1960, Texas Sports Hall of Fame (2000) Norm Cox – former professional football player Édgar Crespo – Olympic swimmer from Panama Andy Dalton (class of 2010) – 2011 Rose Bowl offensive MVP; Pro Bowl quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals Kenneth E. Davis – 1984 Heisman Trophy finalist; All-American running back Jamie Dixon – TCU men's basketball head coach; former head coach for the University of Pittsburgh Josh Doctson – wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings Max Duggan – quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers Taylor Featherston – infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies Brandon Finnegan – pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, formerly of the Kansas City Royals; became the first player to play in a College World Series and an MLB World Series in the same year Keith Flowers – former NFL player Bobby Jack Floyd – former fullback for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears Larry Foyt – semi-retired NASCAR and IRL driver Jeff Gladney – cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals Clint Gresham – long snapper for the Seattle Seahawks Phil Handler – former NFL football player and coach J. J. Henry – PGA golfer, member of the 2006 Ryder Cup team Tom Hoge – PGA golfer Bryan Holaday – catcher for the Boston Red Sox Jerry Hughes – linebacker for the Buffalo Bills Sandora Irvin – former WNBA player, San Antonio Silver Stars Quentin Johnston – wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers Jeremy Kerley – wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers Harry Kinzy – former MLB pitcher Max Knake – former Arena Football League quarterback Jenny Lidback – former LPGA golfer Bob Lilly – former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Robert Lyles – NFL linebacker for Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons Stansly Maponga – defensive end for the New York Giants George McLeod – former NBA player Guy Morriss – former NFL Pro Bowl center; former head football coach at Baylor University and University of Kentucky Lee Nailon – former NBA player Marshall Newhouse – offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders Jeff Newman – former MLB All Star player for the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics Cameron Norrie – British tennis player Davey O'Brien – 1938 Heisman Trophy winner; won the Walter Camp and Maxwell Award the same year David Pate – 1991 Australian Open Men's Doubles Champion; runner-up of the 1991 US Open in Men's Doubles Matt Purke – pitcher for the Chicago White Sox Mike Renfro – former NFL receiver for the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Cowboys Joe Robb – defensive end, Philadelphia Eagles 1959–60, St Louis Cardinals 1961–67, Pro Bowl 1966, Detroit Lions 1968–71, & WFL 1972–74 Khadevis Robinson – Olympian in the 800 meter run; multiple USATF gold medalist; world record-breaker, running the fastest leg in the 4x800 in 2006 Yazmeen Ryan – professional soccer player for Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. Aaron Schobel – retired Pro Bowl defensive end with the NFL's Buffalo Bills Bo Schobel – former defensive end with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals Matt Schobel – former tight end with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles Angela Stanford – professional golfer on the LPGA Tour Jim Swink – All-American running back; member of the College Football Hall of Fame; runner-up for the 1955 Heisman Trophy Kurt Thomas – former NBA player LaDainian Tomlinson – 2006 NFL MVP and 2000 Heisman Trophy finalist; San Diego Chargers 2001–09; New York Jets 2010–2011 Gregg Troy – head coach of the University of Florida swimming and diving team Kris Tschetter – former professional golfer on the LPGA Tour Jason Tucker – former wide receiver for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos; four-time All Star; 91st Grey Cup MVP Johnny Vaught – 1932 All-American guard for TCU; former head coach of the University of Mississippi; member of the College Football Hall of Fame Jason Verrett – cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers Will Walls – former NFL football player Daryl Washington – linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals Kenrich Williams – NBA basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder Malcolm Williams – cornerback for the New England Patriots Jeff Zimmerman – former All-Star pitcher for the Texas Rangers
Writing and journalism