67 Notable alumni of
University of Dayton
Updated:
The University of Dayton is 894th in the world, 327th in North America, and 305th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 67 notable alumni from the University of Dayton sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Jon Gruden
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Studied in 1982-1985
- Occupations
- American football coachAmerican football playersports analyst
- Biography
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Jon David Gruden is an American professional football coach who is an advisor for the Milano Seamen of the European League of Football. He held his first head coaching position with the Raiders franchise during their Oakland tenure from 1998 to 2001, where he won two consecutive division titles and made an AFC Championship Game appearance. Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, which he led to their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXVII the same season. At age 39, he was the then-youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl. He served as Tampa Bay's head coach through 2008, setting the franchise record for wins, but made only two further playoff runs. After his firing from the Buccaneers, Gruden was featured as an analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcasts from the 2009 to the 2017 seasons.
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Kostas Antetokounmpo
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Studied in 2016
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Konstantinos Ndubuisi "Kostas" Antetokounmpo is a Nigerian-Greek professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague.
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Obi Toppin
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Studied in 2018-2020
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Obadiah Richard Toppin Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of National Basketball Association (NBA). A power forward, he played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers.
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Amy Schneider
- Occupations
- mind gamermanagement engineergame show contestant
- Biography
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Amy Schneider is an American writer and game show contestant. Winning 40 consecutive games on the quiz show Jeopardy! from November 2021 to January 2022 and the November 2022 Tournament of Champions, she holds the second-longest win streak in the program's history, behind only Ken Jennings (74 games), who hosted the show as she competed. Her streak is the longest win streak by a woman. She is the most successful woman and most successful transgender contestant ever to compete on the show, in terms of both the length of her streak and her $1.6 million in winnings.
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Richard Rohr
- Occupations
- spiritual teacherCatholic priestreligious writerwritermotivational speaker
- Biography
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Richard Rohr, OFM is an American Franciscan priest and writer on spirituality based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church in 1970, founded the New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati in 1971, and the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque in 1987. In 2011, PBS called him "one of the most popular spirituality authors and speakers in the world".
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Don Novello
- Occupations
- screenwriteractortelevision actordirectorwriter
- Biography
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Don Novello is an American actor, comedian, writer, singer, film director and producer.
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Kristina Keneally
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in political science
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Kristina Marie Kerscher Keneally is an American-born Australian politician who served as the first female Premier of New South Wales from 2009 to 2011 and was later a Labor Senator for New South Wales from February 2018 until April 2022. She resigned from the Senate to contest the House of Representatives seat of Fowler, but was unsuccessful. From 2019 to 2022 she served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, and Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
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Mike Turner
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- In 1992 graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Michael Ray Turner is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Ohio's 10th congressional district since 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party. Turner's district, numbered as the 3rd district from 2003 to 2013, contains Dayton and Springfield, taking in part of Clark County and all of Montgomery and Greene Counties. He has served on the House Intelligence Committee including as its chair. He was removed as chair by Speaker Johnson. He served as mayor of Dayton, Ohio.
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Nan Whaley
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- 1994-1998 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in chemistry
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Nannette L. Whaley is an American politician who served as the 56th mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, she was first elected to the mayorship in November 2013, after serving on the city commission for two terms. Whaley presided over the United States Conference of Mayors from 2021 to 2022. She was the Democratic nominee in the 2022 Ohio gubernatorial election, losing to incumbent Mike DeWine.
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Jim Paxson
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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James Joseph Paxson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. A 1st round selection (12nd pick overall) of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1979 NBA draft, Paxson played for Portland and the Boston Celtics of the NBA from 1979 to 1990 and was twice an All-Star. Paxson served as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers for six years and now works as a consultant with the Chicago Bulls where his brother John Paxson is an executive.
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Katie Moon
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Kathryn Elizabeth Moon is an American pole vaulter. She won gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships (shared with the Australian Nina Kennedy), and silver medals at the 2022 World Indoor Championships and the 2024 Summer Olympics. Moon was also the 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist.
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David Joyce
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- In 1979 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- In 1982 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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David Patrick Joyce is an American politician and attorney currently serving in the United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 14th congressional district since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Joyce was previously the prosecutor of Geauga County, Ohio.
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Brian Roberts
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Brian Lloyd Roberts is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Dayton. At a height of 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, he plays at the point guard position.
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Mark Giangreco
- Occupations
- sports journalist
- Biography
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Mark Giangreco is the former sports director and lead sports anchor for WLS-TV in Chicago, Illinois. Until 2021, Giangreco had anchored the sports segment on ABC7 during the 5pm and 10pm newscasts. He remains an ESPN Radio contributor.
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Dyshawn Pierre
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Dyshawn Pierre is a Canadian professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Super League (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He is from Whitby, Ontario and played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers. Standing at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he plays at the power forward and small forward positions.
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Chris Johnson
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Christapher Johnson is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Premier League and the EuroCup. He played college basketball for the University of Dayton. Standing at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he plays at the small forward and the shooting guard positions.
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Anthony Grant
- Occupations
- basketball playerbasketball coach
- Biography
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Anthony Duvale Grant is an American basketball coach who is the head men's basketball coach at the University of Dayton. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2006 to 2009, and at the University of Alabama from 2009 to 2015. Prior to becoming the VCU head coach, he was an assistant coach at the University of Florida from 1996 to 2006.
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Jon A. Husted
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- In 1989 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- In 1992 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Jon Allen Husted is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Ohio since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Husted served as the 66th lieutenant governor of Ohio from 2019 to 2025 and as the 50th secretary of state of Ohio from 2011 to 2019.
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Erica Chenoweth
- Years
- 1980-.. (age 45)
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- professorresearcherpolitical scientist
- Biography
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Erica Chenoweth is an American political scientist, professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. They are known for their research work on nonviolent civil resistance movements.
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Craig Stammen
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Craig Nicholas Stammen is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres. He currently is a special assistant to the president of baseball operations of the Padres, A. J. Preller.
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Chris Wright
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Chris Wright is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Dayton. Previously, Wright played in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.
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Michael B. Coleman
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Michael B. Coleman is an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 52nd mayor of Columbus, Ohio. He was the first African-American to serve as the mayor of Ohio's capital city.
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Richard Schoen
- Occupations
- university teachermathematicianacademic
- Biography
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Richard Melvin Schoen is an American mathematician known for his work in differential geometry and geometric analysis. He is best known for the resolution of the Yamabe problem in 1984 and his works on harmonic maps.
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Lalas Abubakar
- Occupations
- association football player
- Biography
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Alhassan "Lalas" Abubakarpronunciation is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Major League Soccer club FC Dallas.
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Peter J. Phipps
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- In 1995 graduated with Bachelor of Science in physics
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Peter Joseph Phipps is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
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DaRon Holmes
- Years
- 2002-.. (age 23)
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Studied communication
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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DaRon Rodrick Holmes II is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers.
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Devin Oliver
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Devin Michael Oliver is an American professional basketball player for SLUC Nancy of the LNB Élite. He played college basketball for Dayton.
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Juwan Staten
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Juwan Marquez Staten is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. He played for his hometown school, the University of Dayton, through his freshman year at college. Staten later led West Virginia in points, assists, field goal percentage, and steals during the 2013–14 season.
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Chris Rolfe
- Occupations
- association football player
- Biography
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Chris Rolfe is an American former professional soccer player. Playing both as a forward and winger, Rolfe primarily played for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, in addition to spending time in the Danish Superliga, before joining D.C. United later in his career. He also earned 10 caps for the United States during his career. He has been the director of operations with the University of Notre Dame men's soccer program since July 2019.
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Keith Powers
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Keith Powers is an American politician, Democrat, and council member for the 4th district of the New York City Council. He succeeded former council member Daniel Garodnick in 2018, and was appointed Majority Leader in 2022. On January 3, 2024, Amanda Farias replaced Keith Powers as Majority Leader of the New York City Council.
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Scoochie Smith
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Dayshon "Scoochie" Smith is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Dayton.
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Bob Schaffer
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- In 1984 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- entrepreneurpolitician
- Biography
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Robert Warren Schaffer is an American businessman and a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Colorado in the 105th Congress and the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003). Schaffer was co-chairman of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, and an outspoken leader in promoting American interests and human rights in Eastern Europe.
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Mike Sylvester
- Occupations
- basketball coachbasketball player
- Biography
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Michael Joseph "Mike" Sylvester is an American and Italian retired basketball player who is currently coach at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. Due to the United States boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics, he was the only American to win a medal at those games, using a dual citizenship to play for Italy.
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Trenton Meacham
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Trenton "Trent" Meacham is an American former professional basketball player and current college basketball analyst. He played college basketball at both the University of Dayton and the University of Illinois.
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Jeff Jones
- Years
- 1967-.. (age 58)
- Occupations
- business executive
- Biography
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Jeffrey J. Jones II is an American business executive. He is president and chief executive officer of H&R Block, and formerly held executive posts with Target Corporation, Uber and Gap Inc.
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Jalen Crutcher
- Years
- 1999-.. (age 26)
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Jalen Crutcher is an American professional basketball player for the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers.
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Robert Lowery
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Robert Lowery Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for MLP Academics Heidelberg of the Basketball Bundesliga. Standing at 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in), he plays the point guard position. After two years at Cecil College and two years at Dayton, Lowery entered the 2010 NBA draft but was not selected in the draft's two rounds.
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Jim Katcavage
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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James Richard Katcavage was an American professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) who played thirteen seasons for the New York Giants.
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Joseph Schember
- Years
- 1950-.. (age 75)
- Biography
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Joseph Schember is an American banker and politician and serving as the 48th mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania. Schember previously served as a vice president of PNC Bank and as a member of the Erie City Council between 2006 and 2012.
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Joseph Desch
- Occupations
- mathematician
- Biography
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Joseph Raymond Desch was an American electrical engineer and inventor. During World War II, he was Research Director of the project to design and manufacture the US Navy version of the bombe, a cryptanalytic machine designed to read communications enciphered by the German Enigma.
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The Neutron Man
- Years
- 1942-2004 (aged 62)
- Biography
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The Neutron Man, real name Orlas King, was a popular Ohio State Buckeyes fan for over thirty years. Always seated by the marching band, King would burst into his original dances whenever the Ohio State University Marching Band would play the “Neutron Dance”.
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Ricardo Lancaster-Jones y Verea
- Occupations
- historiandiplomatart collector
- Biography
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Ricardo Lancaster-Jones y Verea, MA BE KHS was a Mexican historian and scholar who made significant contributions toward the study of the haciendas of the State of Jalisco (Mexico) in the twentieth century. His enthusiasm for history led him to become a professor of Regional History at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in 1965. Later on, in 1973, he earned his MA degree in Latin American Studies at the University of New Mexico.
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Richard Boykin
- Born in
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United States - Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Richard R. Boykin is a former member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners who represented the 1st district from December 2014 until December 2018.
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Hank Finkel
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Henry J. Finkel is an American basketball player whose professional career lasted from 1966 to 1975. Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in second round of the 1966 NBA draft he remained with the team through 1966–67, then played with the San Diego Rockets from 1967 to 1969 and spent the remaining years with the Boston Celtics, when, during his next to last season, the Celtics won the 1974 NBA Championship.
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Zed Key
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Zed Key is an American college basketball player for the Dayton Flyers of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
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Greg Graham
- Occupations
- basketball coachbasketball player
- Biography
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Don Gregory Graham is an American college basketball coach. He is a former head men's basketball coach at Boise State University.
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Cole C. Kingseed
- Years
- 1949-.. (age 76)
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in history
- Occupations
- historianwriter
- Biography
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Cole Christian Kingseed is an Army veteran, military historian, and professor. He is the author of Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters. Kingseed, a 30-year army veteran, served as a Full Professor of History and Chief of Military History at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
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James V. Stanton
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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James Vincent Stanton was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1971 to 1977.
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Devin Searcy
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Devin Searcy is an American professional basketball player who last played for Rasta Vechta of the German ProA.
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Bill Coley
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Bill Coley is a former Republican member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 4th District from 2011 to 2020. Formerly, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011.
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Dennis M. McCarthy
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Dennis M. McCarthy was a United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General and served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs from June 2009 - April 2011. McCarthy was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Dayton and the Capital University Law School.
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Charles W. Whalen
- Occupations
- university teacherpoliticianhistorianeconomist
- Biography
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Charles William Whalen Jr was an American politician from Ohio. Whalen was a member of the Republican Party who served in the Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives. In his six terms in the U.S. House, Whalen established himself in the liberal wing of the Republican Party and led opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
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Emil Karas
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Emil Karas was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and in the American Football League (AFL) with the Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers. He was on the Chargers' 1963 AFL Championship team, and an AFL All-Star in 1961, 1962, and 1963. Karas played college football at the University of Dayton and was drafted in the third round of the 1959 NFL draft. He died of pancreatic cancer on November 25, 1974, at age 40.
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Bill Uhl
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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William George Uhl Sr. was an American basketball player. The 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) center was a consensus second team All-American player at the University of Dayton in 1956.
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Garry Roggenburk
- Occupations
- basketball playerbaseball player
- Biography
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Garry Earl Roggenburk is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. The left-hander was listed as a lanky 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg). Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was a high school teammate of Mike Hegan's at Saint Ignatius High School. The two would later be teammates with the 1969 Seattle Pilots.
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Bill Lange
- Occupations
- basketball coachAmerican football player
- Biography
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William Henry Lange was an American professional football offensive guard who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Colts and Chicago Cardinals. He was selected by the Rams in the 30th round of the 1950 NFL draft after playing college football at the University of Dayton.
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Edward G. Breen
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Edward Grimes Breen was an American politician of the Democratic party.
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Thomas C. Seamands
- Years
- 1959-.. (age 66)
- Biography
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Thomas C. Seamands became the U.S. Army's 48th Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 on 26 May 2017. He is responsible for developing, managing, and executing manpower and personnel plans, programs, and policies for the total Army. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Commanding General of the United States Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
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Frank F. Ledford, Jr
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- military physician
- Biography
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Frank Finley Ledford Jr. was an American orthopedic surgeon who served as the 37th Surgeon General of the United States Army from 1988 to 1992.
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Johnny Horan
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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John F. Horan, also nicknamed "The Vertical Hyphen," was an American professional basketball player. Horan was selected in the 1955 NBA draft (first round, sixth overall) by the Fort Wayne Pistons after a collegiate career at Dayton. He played for the Pistons in seven games before being traded to the Minneapolis Lakers in the middle of the 1955–56 season. While with the Lakers, Horan appeared in 12 games.
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John W. Sweeterman
- Occupations
- publisher
- Biography
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John William Sweeterman was an American newspaperman who was publisher of The Washington Post from 1961 to 1968, and who helped engineer the Post's 1954 acquisition of the Washington Times-Herald, which improved the Post's struggling financial situation.
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Gregory L. Wayt
- Enrolled in the University of Dayton
- Graduated with Master of Arts in public administration
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Major General Gregory Lynn Wayt served as Adjutant General of Ohio under Governors Bob Taft and Ted Strickland.
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Bucky Bockhorn
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Arlen Dale "Bucky" Bockhorn is a retired American basketball player. He was a guard for the National Basketball Association's Cincinnati Royals from 1958 to 1965. He played college basketball at the University of Dayton and is a member of Dayton's Hall of Fame and All-Century team.
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Rita Rapp
- Occupations
- physiologist
- Biography
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Rita Rapp was an American physiologist who led the Apollo Food System team. She won a NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the United States Civil Service Commission Federal Woman's Award and University of Dayton Distinguished Alumni Award. A plaque in her honor remains at the Johnson Space Center.
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Biff Schlitzer
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Victor Joseph "Biff" Schlitzer was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1908 through 1914 for the Philadelphia Athletics (1908–09) and Boston Red Sox (1909) of the American League, and with the Buffalo Buffeds of the Federal League (1914). Listed at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 175 lb (79 kg), Schlitzer batted and threw right-handed. A native of Rochester, New York, he attended University of Dayton.
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Francis Augustine Thill
- Occupations
- Catholic priestCatholic bishop
- Biography
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Francis Augustine Thill was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Concordia, later becoming the Diocese of Salina, from 1938 until his death in 1957.
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Allan Day
- Occupations
- military leader
- Biography
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Allan E. Day is a retired United States Air Force major general who recently served as the director of logistics operations of the Defense Logistics Agency. Previously, he was the director of logistics, civil engineering, force protection, and nuclear integration of the Air Force Materiel Command.
