List of La Salle University people

This List of La Salle University people includes alumni, faculty, presidents, and other individuals associated with La Salle University.

Alumni

• Note: Individuals may be listed in more than one category.

Government, law, and public policy

• Francis L. Bodine - former member of the New Jersey General Assembly
• Kevin J. Boyle - member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2011
• William Joseph Burns - United States Ambassador to Jordan; United States Deputy Secretary of State, 2011-2014; head of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Tina Davis - member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Michael Driscoll - businessman, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2015 and founder of the iconic Irish Pub, Finnigan's Wake in Philadelphia.
• Dwight Evans, U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district
• Edward Fenlon - former member of the Michigan House of Representatives and jurist
• Tom Gola - NBA Naismith Hall of Fame basketball player; Philadelphia City Controller 1970-71
• William F. Harrity - National Chairman of the Democratic Party (1892–1896)
• William F. Keller - Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Jim Kenney - Mayor of Philadelphia (2016–present)

Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia (2016 - present)

• Joanna E. McClinton - Pennsylvania State Representative since 2015
• Dennis M. O'Brien - Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; Philadelphia City Councilman
• Michael H. O'Brien - Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Michael J. Stack III - Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania alongside Tom Wolf

Business

• Tom Curley - co-creator, former President of USA Today
• Larry Miller - President of the Jordan Brand

Education

• Stephen Andriole - Thomas G. Labrecque Chair of Business Technology at Villanova University
• John D. Caputo - Thomas J. Watson Professor of Humanities at Syracuse University; founder of weak theology
• Naomi Halas - Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor in Chemistry at Rice University
• Michael McGinniss - President of Christian Brothers University, 1994-1999, and La Salle University, 1999-2014

Literature

• Michael F. Flynn - science fiction author
• Charles Fuller - playwright, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
• Jack McDevitt - science fiction author
• Matthew Quick - author

Fine arts

• John McShain - builder of The Pentagon, Jefferson Memorial, and Kennedy Center

Entertainment

Peter Boyle

• Peter Boyle - Emmy award winning actor
• Ralph Garman - actor, voice actor
• Jessica Barth - actress

Journalism and media

• Adam Bagni - sportscaster
• Tom Curley - founder of USA Today, former CEO of AP
• AJ Daulerio - editor-in-chief of Gawker, Deadspin
• Brady Hicks - wrestling journalist
• Tim Legler - NBA, ESPN analyst
• Meredith Marakovits - YES Network reporter
• Bill Raftery - ESPN and CBS Sports college basketball analyst
• Gary Smith - sportswriter

Athletics

American football

• Mike Mandarino - NFL
• George Somers - NFL

Soccer

• Cesidio Colasante - MLS draft pick
• John McCarthy - goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Union
• Courtney Niemiec - defender for the Portland Thorns FC
• Ryan Richter - defender for Ottawa Fury FC

Basketball

• Michael Brooks - NBA, Europe; professional career lasted 1980-2008
• Joe Bryant - NBA, father of Kobe Bryant and former head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA
• Rasual Butler - small forward in the NBA for the Washington Wizards; was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2002.
• Larry Cannon - ABA
• Larry Foust - 8× NBA All-Star (1951–1956, 1958–1959)
• Tom Gola - enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976; NBA champion (1956); 5× NBA All-Star (1960–1964); No. 15 retired by La Salle

Tom Gola's number 15 is retired by La Salle University. The Tom Gola Arena is named after him.

• Tim Legler - NBA, analyst for ESPN's NBA coverage
• Ralph Lewis - NBA
• Joe Mihalich - head coach of Hofstra University men's basketball
• Larry Miller - former President of the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA; President of the Jordan Brand
• Jeff Neubauer - head coach of Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball
• Doug Overton - NBA, played in 11 NBA seasons for 8 different teams; head coach for the Springfield Armor
• Jim Phelan - basketball player and coach
• Bill Raftery - ESPN and CBS Sports college basketball analyst
• Lionel Simmons - NBA, 3rd leading scorer in NCAA history; drafted 7th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 1990
• Steven Smith - NBA, Serie A
• Fatty Taylor - ABA, NBA
• Randy Woods - NBA

Olympians

La Salle Olympians, who have won a total of six medals (four gold, and two bronze) in 11 Olympic Games.

• Diane Bracalente - field hockey, Seoul 1988
• Al Cantello - track and field, Rome 1960
• Stan Cwiklinski - rowing, gold medal, men's eight, Tokyo 1964
• Ira Davis - track and field, Rome 1960; placed 4th in the triple jump
• Hugh Foley - rowing, gold medal, men's eight, Tokyo 1964
• Charles Kieffer - rowing, gold medal, men's pair with coxswain, Los Angeles 1932
• Kathy McGahey - field hockey, bronze medal, Los Angeles 1984
• Diane Moyer - field hockey, Moscow 1980; bronze medal, Los Angeles 1984
• John Uelses - first person to pole vault 16' (4.88 m), setting the world record (failed to qualify at trials)
• Joe Verdeur - swimming, gold medal, in 200 meter breaststroke, London 1948

Faculty

• Mary Ellen Balchunis - Professor in the Political Science Department and Democratic nominee for Congress

Men's basketball head coaches

University Presidents

References