Founded in 1895 with its first class admitted in the fall of 1899, Eastern Illinois has a long and distinguished list of people who have walked the Charleston campus. Listed below are some famous EIU alumni.
EIU Alumni Association
ENTERTAINMENT
Burl Ives - Legendary folk singer and Oscar Award winning actor
Joan Allen - Oscar Nominated Actress
Ray D'Alessio - Sports Anchor for CNN
John Jurkovic - ESPN Radio Personality
John Malkovich - Oscar Nominated Actor
Charlotte Martin - National Recording Artist
Larry Smith - former Sports Anchor for CNN
Jerry Van Dyke - Noted television actor
SPORTS
Brad Childress - former Minnesota Vikings Head Coach (NFL)
John Craft - Former US Record Holder for Triple Jump
Kevin Duckworth - Former NBA All-Star
Jeff Gossett - Former NFL Pro Bowl Punter
Matt Hughes - UFC World Champion
Schellas Hyndman - Head Coach FC Dallas (Major League Soccer)
Marty Pattin - Former Major League Baseball All-Star
Sean Payton - New Orleans Saints Head Coach (NFL)
Tony Romo - NFL Pro Bowl Quarterback
Kevin Seitzer - Former Major League Baseball All-Star
Mike Shanahan - Washington Redskins Head Coach (NFL)
Dan Steele - 2002 Winter Olympic Bronze Medalist (Bobsled)
James Warring - Former Boxing & Kickboxing World Champion
POLITICS, BUSINESS & OTHER
Jim Edgar - Former Illinois Governor
Joan Embrey - Animal Rights Activist
Joe Snyder - Winner of Silver Star (World War II)