19 Notable alumni of Saginaw Valley State University
Updated: June 14, 2026 EliteDegrees
Saginaw Valley State University is 2697st in the world, 1st in North America, and 698st in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 19 notable alumni from Saginaw Valley State University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Saginaw Valley State University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Sadik Balarabe
1992-. (aged 34)
association football player
Sadik Olaniyi Balarabe is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Aslanköy GSD on loan from Mağusa Türk Gücü.
2. James A. Barcia
1952-. (aged 74)
Coordinator and Natural
employee
politician
James Allan Barcia is an American Democratic politician from Michigan. He has served successively in the Michigan House of Representatives, the Michigan Senate, the United States House of Representatives and then again the Michigan Senate, from which he was term-limited in January 2011. He has served as County Executive of Bay County, Michigan, since January, 2017.
+ show more
3. John DiGiorgio
1982-. (aged 44)
American football player
John DiGiorgio is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals.
+ show more
4. Matt Black
1985-. (aged 41)
Canadian football player
Matthew Black is a Canadian former professional football defensive back who played ten seasons with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He won two Grey Cup championships in 2012 and 2017.
+ show more
5. Roger Mason
1958-. (aged 68)
baseball player
Roger Leroy Mason is an American former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from 1984 to 1987, 1989, and 1991–1994.
+ show more
6. Paul Spicer
1975-. (aged 51)
American football player
Paul Spicer is an American football coach and former defensive end who was most recently the defensive line coach for the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL. He played college football at Saginaw Valley State. He then played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1998 to 2009, the majority of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He...
+ show more
7. Jonathon Jennings
1992-. (aged 34)
Canadian football player
American football player
Jonathon Jennings is an American former professional football quarterback who played for the BC Lions and Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He attended Saginaw Valley State University, where he played college football. Jennings made his professional debut for the Lions in 2015.
+ show more
8. Ruvell Martin
1982-. (aged 44)
American football player
Ruvell Martin is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers in 2004. Martin was also a member of the Amsterdam Admirals, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams,...
+ show more
9. Sheldon Neeley
1968-. (aged 58)
politician
Sheldon Andre Neeley is an American politician, currently serving as the Mayor of Flint, Michigan. He was elected as Flint's mayor in 2019 and served an abbreviated three-year term before being re-elected in 2022. Neeley is a registered Democrat and a former state representative in Michigan's 34th House district. He served two complete terms and one partial term in the...
+ show more
10. Todd Herremans
1982-. (aged 44)
American football player
Todd Herremans is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals and was selected in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent ten seasons. During his NFL career, Herremans started...
+ show more
11. Suzy Merchant
1969-. (aged 57)
basketball player
basketball coach
Suzy Merchant was the head basketball coach for the Michigan State University women's basketball team from 2007 to 2023.
12. Jeff Heath
1991-. (aged 35)
American football player
Jeff Heath is an American former professional football safety. He played college football at Saginaw Valley State University. Heath signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He also played for the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints.
+ show more
13. Jeff Janis
1991-. (aged 35)
American football player
Jeffrey Ronald Janis is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. Janis was also a member of the Cleveland Browns.
+ show more
14. Gail Goestenkors
1963-. (aged 63)
basketball player
basketball coach
Gail Ann Goestenkors is an American basketball coach who was most recently an assistant coach for the Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team.
15. Matt LaFleur
1979-. (aged 47)
American football coach
American football player
Matthew Robert LaFleur is an American professional football coach and former player who is the head coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams and the Tennessee Titans, and has also served as the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Redskins, Notre Dame, and the Atlanta...
+ show more
16. Meera Chopra
1983-. (aged 43)
model
actor
Meera Chopra is an Indian actress and producer who has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi-language films. In Tamil films, she is credited as Nila.
17. Dej Loaf
1991-. (aged 35)
singer
songwriter
rapper
Deja Monét Trimble, known professionally as Dej Loaf (stylized as DeJ Loaf), is an American rapper and singer from Detroit, Michigan. She is best known for her 2014 single "Try Me" and its 2015 follow-up, "Back Up" (featuring Big Sean). The latter received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and served as lead single for her...
+ show more
18. Bart Stupak
1952-. (aged 74)
police officer
lobbyist
politician
Bartholomew Thomas Stupak is an American politician and lobbyist. A member of the Democratic Party, Stupak served as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 1st congressional district from 1993 to 2011.
+ show more
19. Yang Wen-ke
1951-. (aged 75)
politician
Yang Wen-ke is a Taiwanese politician who is the current magistrate of Hsinchu County since 25 December 2018 after winning the 2018 Taiwanese local elections on 24 November 2018.
+ show more