This is a list of notable alumni of the University of Idaho and a list of its presidents.

Alumni

Academia

Administration

Business

Criminals

Government

• Blaine Anderson - federal judge, U.S District Court (1971–76); U.S. Court of Appeals (1976–88); LL.B. '49 • Phil Batt - Governor (1995–99); UI chemical engineering student, withdrew in 1948 due to family hardship • Roger Batzel - Director (1971–1988) of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; B.S.Ch.E. '47 • Terrel Bell - Secretary of Education (1981–85); M.A. '54 • Mary (Thomas) Brooks - Director of the U.S. Mint (1969–77); Class of '29 • Hamer Budge - U.S. House (1951–61), headed SEC (1969–71). J.D. '36. • Roger Burdick - Idaho Supreme Court justice (2003– ); Chief Justice (2011–15, 2017– ); J.D. '74 • Pete Cenarrusa - longtime Secretary of State of Idaho; Class of '40 • Larry Craig - U.S. Senator (1991–2009); U.S. House (1981–91); Class of '69 • Daniel Eismann - Idaho Supreme Court justice (2001–17); Chief Justice (2007–11); J.D. '76 • Mark Felt - FBI special agent and associate director; Watergate informer "Deep Throat;" Class of '35 • Abe Goff - U.S. House (1947–49); later served on ICC; LL.B. 1924 • Philip Habib - diplomat, special envoy to the Middle East under President Reagan; Class of '42 • Joel Horton - Idaho Supreme Court justice (2007–18); J.D. '85 • Dirk Kempthorne - Secretary of the Interior (2006–09); Governor (1999–2006); U.S. Senator (1993–99); Mayor of Boise (1985–93); Class of '75 • Gus Kohntopp - Colonel in the Idaho Air National Guard; identified as one of two 190th Fighter Squadron pilots involved in the 190th Fighter Squadron, Blues and Royals friendly fire incident - March 28, 2003 • R.D. Leeper - Idaho Supreme Court justice (1932); LL.B. 1913 • Edward Lodge - federal judge, U.S District Court (1989– ); LL.B. '61 • Jim McClure - U.S. Senator (1973–91); U.S. House (1967–73); LL.B. '50 • Ray McNichols - federal judge, U.S District Court (1964–85); LL.B. '50 • Tom Nelson - federal judge, U.S. Court of Appeals (1990–2009); LL.B. '62 • Mike O'Callaghan - Governor of Nevada (1971–79); B.S., M.Ed. '56 • Sarah Palin - Governor of Alaska (2006–09); Class of '87, B.A. Communications • Jim Risch - U.S. Senator (2009– ); Lieutenant Governor (2003–06, 2007–09); Governor (2006–07); Class of '65, J.D. '68 • Harold Ryan - federal judge, U.S District Court (1981–95); LL.B. '50 • Henry Lee Schatz - agricultural economist with the Foreign Agricultural Service; rescued from Iran in the Canadian Caper Class of '71, M.S. '74 • Steve Symms - U.S. Senator (1981–93); U.S. House (1973–81); Class of '60 • Fred Taylor - U.S District Court judge (1954–88); LL.B. '26 • Linda Copple Trout - first female Idaho Supreme Court justice (1992–2007) and Chief Justice (1997–2004); Class of '73, J.D. '77 • Jesse Walters - Idaho Supreme Court justice (1997–2003), chief judge of the Idaho Court of Appeals (1982–97); J.D. '63 • M. Elizabeth Ware, university administrator, government official, nonprofit leader • Herman Welker - U.S. Senator (1951–57); LL.B. 1929 • Compton I. White Jr. - U.S. House (1963–67); Class of '42 • Calvin E. Wright - Idaho State Auditor (1939-45), Democratic nominee for Idaho Governor 1950, Internal Revenue Service Idaho Director 1951-1973; Class of 1930

Journalism

Literature and the arts

• Rayce Bird - makeup and special effects artist; Season Two winner of SyFy's Face Off • Holden Bowler - namesake of J.D. Salinger's character Holden Caulfield; soloist in the Robert Shaw Chorale; attended from 1931 to 1935, but did not graduate • Carol Ryrie Brink - author; winner of the John Newbery Medal in 1936 for her book Caddie Woodlawn; Moscow native; attended UI 1914–17 • Canary Lee Burton - composer and classical music DJ • Marilyn Denis - morning show co-host on CHUM-FM in Toronto, Ontario; host of TV shows CityLine and The Marilyn Denis Show • Bill Fagerbakke - actor, television series Coach (1989–97); voice of Patrick Star on SpongeBob SquarePants; Class of '81 • Jim Lemley - Hollywood film producer; produced Wanted and 9; former CEO of Mel Gibson's Icon Productions International; Class of '88 • "Seanbaby" (Sean Reiley) - comedy writer and video game critic • E.E. "Doc" Smith - science fiction author; wrote the Lensman series and the Skylark series; Class of 1914 • Brad Teare - painter and illustrator • Bobbie Thomas - Style Editor for NBC's Today Show • Rebecca Zanetti - romance novelist

Military

Science

Sports

Olympics

Baseball

Basketball

Football

• Steve Buratto - CFL head coach for Calgary (1984–85) and British Columbia (2000–02); Class of '65 • Tom Cable - NFL head coach for Oakland (2008–10) and UI head coach (2000–03); Class of '86 • Spencer Folau - NFL guard (1997–2004); Class of '97 • John Friesz - NFL quarterback (1990–2000), 2006 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, 1989 Walter Payton Award winner; Class of '90 • Ken Hobart - USFL and CFL quarterback; Class of '84 • Mike Hollis - NFL placekicker (1995–2002); Class of '94 • Bret Ingalls - Offensive Line Coach for the New Orleans Saints; 27 years in college football; won 2009 Super Bowl XLIV in his first season with the Saints • Mike Iupati - NFL guard; San Francisco 49ers' first round draft pick, 17th overall (2010–2020); Class of 2010 • Shiloh Keo - NFL safety (2011–2017); drafted by the Houston Texans, Super Bowl title with the Denver Broncos; Class of 2011 • Tony Knap - head coach at Utah State (1963–66), Boise State (1968–75), and UNLV (1976–81); Class of '39 • Jerry Kramer - NFL Hall of Fame guard, Green Bay Packers (1958–68); author; five NFL titles and two Super Bowl wins; Class of '58 • Scott Linehan - NFL head coach for the St. Louis Rams (2006–08); former Vandal quarterback; Class of '87 • Don Matthews - CFL head coach (1983–2008); five Grey Cup titles, over 200 CFL wins; Class of '64 • Ray McDonald - NFL running back (1967–69); Washington Redskins' first round draft pick, 13th overall; led nation in rushing in 1966; Class of '67 • Sam Merriman - NFL linebacker (1983–87) for the Seattle Seahawks; Class of '83 • Yo Murphy - former NFL and CFL wide receiver; Class of '92 • Jim Norton - AFL all-star safety and punter, Houston Oilers (1960–68); Class of '60 • Doug Nussmeier - NFL quarterback (1994–97), 1993 Walter Payton Award winner; Michigan offensive coordinator; Class of '94 • Ryan Phillips - NFL linebacker (1997–2001); Class of '97 • Jim Prestel - NFL defensive tackle (1960–67); Class of '60 • Bud Riley - CFL head coach for Winnipeg (1974–77) and Hamilton (1982–83); Class of '52 • Jeff Robinson - NFL tight end and long snapper (1993–2005, 2007), Super Bowl win with the Rams; Class of '93 • Mark Schlereth - NFL guard (1989–2000) with the Redskins and Broncos; three Super Bowl wins; ESPN commentator; Class of '89 • Jake Scott - NFL guard (2004–12); Super Bowl title with the Colts; Class of '03 • Lyle Smith - head coach at Boise State (1947–67) and its athletic director (1968–81); Class of '39 • Joel Thomas - running backs coach for the New Orleans Saints • Korey Toomer - Linebacker at Seattle Seahawks; Class of '12 • Chris Tormey - head coach at UI (1995–99) and Nevada (2000–03); assistant at Washington and Washington State; Class of '78 • Mao Tosi - former NFL defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals (2000–2001); Class of '00 • David Vobora - linebacker for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks; 2008 Mr. Irrelevant; Class of '08 • Wayne Walker - NFL all-star linebacker, Detroit Lions (1958–72); sportscaster; Class of '58 • Marvin Washington - NFL defensive end (1989–99); Class of '88 • John Yarno - NFL center, Seattle Seahawks (1977–82); UI's first Div-I AP first team All-American (1976); Class of '77

Faculty

Presidents of the University of Idaho

The following individuals have held the office of President of the University of Idaho.