You’re watching Office Space for the tenth time, laughing at Bill Lumbergh’s monotone "Yeaaaah, I’m gonna need you to come in on Saturday," and it hits you. Or maybe you're binging Glee and wondering where that sharp, dry wit of Sue Sylvester actually came from. Honestly, there’s a massive chance you’ve been entertained by an ISU Redbird this week without even realizing it.
Illinois State University isn’t just a school in the middle of a cornfield in Normal, Illinois. It’s a literal powerhouse for talent. While some big-name schools brag about their billionaire donors, ISU has quietly populated Hollywood, the NFL, and high-level government offices with people who actually do the work.
The list of Illinois State University notable alumni is longer—and frankly, weirder—than most people expect. We’re talking about Oscar nominees, Emmy winners, and athletes who have rings from almost every major sport. Let's get into who they are and why the "Normal" education is anything but average.
The Steppenwolf Connection: How ISU Took Over Hollywood
If you know anything about Chicago theater, you know the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. It’s legendary. What most people don't know is that the foundation of that company is basically an ISU alumni association meeting.
John Malkovich
Yeah, the John Malkovich. Before he was a household name for playing eccentric villains and being, well, John Malkovich, he was a student in Normal. He didn’t actually graduate—he famously dropped out just a few credits shy to go join the Steppenwolf crew in Chicago. But the university still claims him, and honestly, why wouldn't they? His time at ISU was where he met the people who would define his early career.
Jane Lynch
Long before she was wearing tracksuits on Glee or hosting Hollywood Game Night, Jane Lynch was a theater major at ISU. She graduated in 1982. She’s often talked about how the program at ISU gave her the "scaffolding" to build her career. Fun fact: she actually came back in 2017 to receive an honorary doctorate. So, technically, it’s Dr. Sue Sylvester now.
Gary Cole
You know his face. You know his voice. Whether it’s Office Space, Talladega Nights, or Veep, Gary Cole is one of those "that guy" actors who is in everything. He attended ISU from 1974 to 1977. He’s another Steppenwolf alum who started his journey on the stages of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts.
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Sean Hayes
Jack McFarland from Will & Grace? Yep, another Redbird. Sean Hayes studied piano performance at ISU. Much like Malkovich, he left slightly early to pursue professional gigs, but the school remains a huge part of his history. In 2013, he also got the honorary doctorate treatment. It seems if you’re a funny ISU alum who becomes a superstar, there’s a gown waiting for you back in Normal eventually.
Redbirds in the Pros: Beyond the Court
It’s not all just scripts and stage lights. The athletic department has produced some serious heavy hitters. If you’ve followed the St. Louis Cardinals or the NBA in the last few decades, you’ve definitely seen Illinois State University notable alumni in action.
Paul DeJong is probably the most recent name that comes to mind for baseball fans. He was a beast for the Redbirds before becoming an All-Star shortstop. It’s rare to see a guy go from the Missouri Valley Conference straight to hitting home runs in the big leagues, but DeJong made it look kinda easy.
Then you have Doug Collins. He’s a massive figure in basketball history. He was the #1 overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. Think about that for a second. Out of every player in the country, the best one was a Redbird. He went on to coach Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls and became one of the most recognizable voices in sports broadcasting.
And we can’t talk about ISU sports without mentioning the "Redbird to NFL" pipeline.
- James Robinson: The running back who took the NFL by storm as an undrafted free agent.
- Davontae Harris: A lockdown cornerback who spent years in the league.
- Mike Prior: A Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers.
The Politics of "Normal"
It’s not just entertainment and sweat. ISU alums have a weirdly strong grip on the political and journalistic landscape.
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Adam Kinzinger, the former U.S. Representative who became a central figure in national news over the last few years, is a 2000 graduate. Regardless of where you stand on the political aisle, he’s one of the most prominent political voices to come out of Central Illinois in decades.
On the media side, you’ve got Carl Hulse. He’s the Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times. If you read about what's happening in the halls of Congress, there's a good chance an ISU grad wrote the story. It sort of proves the point that the school produces people who can handle the "grind" of D.C. and New York.
Surprising Names You Might Have Missed
- Cecily Strong: The Saturday Night Live star actually spent time at ISU before heading to CalArts. She’s a proud Illinois native and honed her early improv skills in the local scene.
- Brendan Hunt: You might know him as Coach Beard from Ted Lasso. He’s a 1996 grad. It turns out the silent, philosophical coach has some Redbird roots.
- Colton Underwood: Before he was The Bachelor, he was a standout defensive end for the Redbirds. His transition from the gridiron to reality TV is definitely one of the more unique career paths on this list.
Why Does This Matter?
You might be thinking, "Cool, some famous people went there. So what?"
Honestly, it matters because it breaks the myth that you have to go to an Ivy League or a massive coastal university to make it big. ISU has this "scrappy" energy. The theater program is widely considered one of the best in the nation, not because it’s fancy, but because it’s rigorous. They churn out character actors and technical directors who actually know how to work.
There’s a common misconception that ISU is just a "teacher's school." While it did start as the Illinois State Normal University (a school for training teachers), it has evolved into a place where you can study piano performance and end up on a sitcom, or study economics and end up running a major corporation.
Thinking About Joining the Ranks?
If you’re a student or a parent looking at the list of Illinois State University notable alumni, the takeaway shouldn't just be the fame. It should be the versatility. These people didn't all follow a straight line. Many of them—like Malkovich and Hayes—took detours. They used the university as a launchpad rather than a final destination.
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If you’re an alum yourself, you’re in pretty good company. Whether you're in a boardroom or a classroom, you’re part of a lineage that includes Sue Sylvester, Coach Beard, and a whole lot of Super Bowl rings.
What you should do next:
- Check out the University Galleries: If you're ever back in Normal, the art scene is still thriving.
- Support the local theater: The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is where many of these famous actors got their first professional start.
- Network with the Alumni Association: They have chapters in almost every major city, and Redbirds tend to look out for each other.
The path from Normal to the world stage is well-trodden. You just have to decide where your own name is going to fit on the list.