The list below is of former Eastern Illinois University student-athletes and alumni who have gone on to the professional ranks. Please note that an athlete must have played in a regular-season contest to be included. EIU has had many athletes who have been invited to try-outs or camps with teams. Those athletes are not included on this list.
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ACTIVE PLAYERS & HEAD COACHES
National Football League
Tony Romo - Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
Pierre Walters - Linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs
Brad Childress - Head Coach, Minnesota Vikings
Sean Payton - Head Coach, New Orleans Saints
Mike Shanahan - Head Coach, Washington Redskins
Major League Baseball
Tim Bogar - Assistant Coach, Boston Red Sox
Kevin Seitzer - Assistant Coach, Kansas City Royals
Arena Football League (currently not in operation for 2009)
John Moyer - Lineman, Chicago Rush
Nick Allison- Defensive Back, Orlando Predators
Canadian Football League
Chris Szarka - Fullback, Saskatchewan Roughriders
Other Professional Athletes
Matt Hughes - Ulitimate Fighting Championship World Champion
Professional Basketball Overseas/ABA/NBA-D League
Henry Domercant - currently playing in Italy
Josh Gomes - currently playing in Israel
Ramon Taylor - currently playing in Mexico (Camaron
Julio Anthony- currently playing in Switzerland
Bobby Catchings - currently playing in Spain
Kyle Hill - currently playing in Spain
Major League Soccer
Schellas Hyndman - head coach FC Dallas
Minor League Baseball
Kyle Haines - Akron Aeros (Cleveland AA)
Erik Huber - Lynchburg Hillcats (Pittsburgh Single A Advanced)
Tyler Kehrer - Orem Owlz (Anaheim Rookie League)
Brett Nommensen - Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay Short Season A)
Jordan Kreke - Danville Braves (Atlanta Rookie League)
OTHER EIU ALUMNI IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
Ken Baker - National Football League Replay Official
Mike Ball - Director, Quality Assurance & Guest Services for St. Louis Cardinals
Mike Heimerdinger - Offensive Coordinator for Tennessee Titans
Greg McMahon - Special Teams Coordinator for New Orleans Saints
Jeff Overton - President of Camelback Ranch-Glendale, spring training home for Chicago White Sox & L.A. Dodgers
Ryan Pace - Director of Pro Scouting for New Orleans Saints
Kevin Savoree - co-Owner Andretti Green Racing in IndyCar Series
Bill Sepich - Assistant Equipment Manager for Seattle Mariners
Mark Simpson - Goalkeepers coach for D.C. United
Joe Strohm - Vice President of Ticket Sales for St. Louis Cardinals
Nick Swartz - Head Athletic Trainer for Kansas City Royals
Fred White - Director of Broadcast Services & Alumni for Kansas City Royals
FORMER PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS
National Basketball Association
Kevin Duckworth - 1987-97 (San Antonio, Portland, Washington, Milwaukee, LA Clippers)
Jay Taylor - 1990 (New Jersey)
National Football League
Arapostathis, Evan - 1986 (St. Louis Cardinals)
Banks, Roy - 1987-88 (Indianapolis)
Black, Mel - 1986-87 (New England)
Christensen, Jeff - 1983, 1987 (Cincinnati, Cleveland)
Fichtel, Brad - 1994 (Los Angeles Rams)
Fisher, Ray - 1959 (Pittsburgh, Dallas Texans)
Geile, Chris - 1987 (Detroit)
Glenn, Bill - 1944 (Chicago)
Gossett, Jeff - 1981-96 (Kansas City, Houston Oilers, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders)
Gray, Kevin - 1982 (New Orleans)
Jurkovic, John - 1991-99 (Green Bay, Jacksonville, Cleveland)
McElroy, Ray - 1995-2001 (Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit)
Parker, Steve - 1983-84 (Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts)
Payton, Sean - 1987 (Chicago)
Petersen, Ted - 1977-87 (Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis)
Rosenstiel, Bob - 1997 (Oakland)
Watson, Chris - 1999-2002 (Denver, Buffalo, Detroit)
Williams, Robert - 1984 (Pittsburgh)
Mike Shanahan - Head Coach, Denver Broncos
Major League Baseball
Tim Bogar - 1993-2001 (New York Mets, Houston, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Eric Hillman - 1992-94 (New York Mets)
Marty Pattin - 1968-80 (California Angels, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee, Kansas City)
Tim Pyznarski - 1986 (San Diego)
Ray Richmond - 1920-21 (St. Louis Browns)
Pat Rooney - 1981 (Montreal)
Stan Royer - 1991-94 (St. Louis, Boston)
Kevin Seitzer - 1986-97 (Kansas City, Milwaukee, Oakland, Cleveland)
Gary Wagner - 1965-70 (Philadelphia, Boston)
Bart Zeller - 1970 (St. Louis)
Major League Soccer
Jason Thompson - 2004-06 (D.C. United)
Mark Simpson - 1996-01 (D.C. United)
Canadian Football League
Frank Cutolo - British Columbia Lions
Sean Payton - Ottawa Rough Riders
Pete Catan - Winnepeg Blue Bombers
Kevin Gray - Ottawa Rough Riders
Ed Sorgel - Toronto Argonauts
Arena Football League
Anthony Buich - 2004-05 (Grand Rapids, Nashville Kats)
Sean Payton - 1987 (Chicago Bruisers)
Ethan Banning - 2000-01, 2003, 2006 (Grand Rapids, Carolina, Arizona)
Ryan Shuff - 2000-01 (Houston)
Phil Taylor - 2001 (Toronto)
Dave Thomas - 2001 (Detroit)
NFL Europe
Pascal Matla - 2007 (Amsterdam Admirals)
Other Professional Sports
James Warring - World Boxing Champion & World Kickboxing Champion
Professional Basketball Overseas/ABA/NBA-D League
Craig DeWitt - 1981 (Netherlands)
Emanuel Dildy - 2006 (Germany)
Merve Joseph - 2006 (Antigue)
Rick Kaye - 1999 (Spain)
David Roos - currently playing with ABA Peoria Kings
Jay Taylor - 1997 (Cypress)
* year is last year & team active with
Minor League Baseball
J.D. Anderson - 1952, Philadelphia Phillies
John McDevitt - 1953, Pittsburgh Pirates
Jack Kenny - 1955, Kansas City Athletics
Ken Ludwig - 1955, Pittsburgh Pirates
Tom McDevitt - 1956, St. Louis Cardinals
Frank Caliendo - 1962, Chicago White Sox
Ted Huddleston - 1962, New York Yankees
Gene Vidoni - 1965, San Francisco Giants
Val Bush - 1965, San Francisco Giants
Nick Balodimas - 1965, New York Mets
Stu Cann - 1967, New York Mets
John Burns - 1968, Atlanta Braves
Phil Bracken - 1971, San Francisco Giants
Bill Taft - 1971, San Francisco Giants
Dave Diamond- 1972, Chicago White Sox
Rod Maxwell - 1973, California Angels
Randy Trapp - 1973, New York Mets
Bill Tucker - 1976, Atlanta Braves
Tim West - 1978, Montreal Expos
Jeff Gossett - 1978, New York Mets
Rick Doss - 1978, San Francisco Giants
Ken Westray - 1980, Montreal Expos
Marty Pulley - 1980, Toronto Blue Jays
Randy Weibel - 1981, Montreal Expos
Elliott Skorupa - 1981, Montreal Expos
Tom Detmer - 1982, St. Louis Cardinals
Matt Cimo - 1982, San Francisco Giants
Bill Morton - 1983, Philadelphia Phillies
Kevin Gordon - 1983, Pittsburgh Pirates
Brian Jones - 1984, Pittsburgh Pirates
Mick Freed - 1985, St. Louis Cardinals
Monty Aldrich - 1985, Atlanta Braves
Tim Torricelli - 1986, Milwaukee Brewers
Terry McDevitt - 1986, San Diego Padres
Kendall Snyder - 1986, Minnesota Twins
Bill Taylor - 1988, Oakland A's
Shannon Coppell - 1988, San Francisco Giants
Jim Sweeney - 1989, Chicago Cubs
Dan Hargis - 1989, Montreal Expos
Ryan Edwards - 1990, Cincinnati Reds
Steve Lemke - 1992, Oakland A's
Tad Smith - 1993, New York Mets
Joe Keusch - 1994, Texas Rangers
Willy Hilton - 1995, Oakland A's
Steve Dunlop - 1996, Arizona Diamondbacks
Randy Eversgerd - 1997, Toronto Blue Jays
Bobby Castelli - 1998, Montreal Expos
John Larson - 1999 & 2000, Minnesota Twins/Pittsburgh Pirates
Matt Gage - 1999, Oakland A's
Chris Martin - 2001, New York Yankees
Bret Pignatiello - 2003, Montreal Expos
Jordan Pals - 2003, St. Louis Cardinals
Chris Uhle - 2004, Houston Astros
** indicates year and major league organization drafted by or signed with