21 Notable alumni of Southern Utah University
Updated: June 12, 2026 EliteDegrees
Southern Utah University is ranked #2,468 in the world and #639 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 21 notable alumni from Southern Utah 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 Southern Utah University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Maz Trakh
1960-. (aged 66)
basketball coach
Mazen "Maz" Trakh is a Jordanian-American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for APR BBC of the Rwanda Basketball League. Trakh previously coached in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Continental Basketball Association (CBA), American Basketball Association (ABA) and overseas.
+ show more
2. Bill Evans
1929-1980 (aged 51)
composer
bandleader
jazz pianist
conductor
William LaVar Evans is a college basketball head coach, currently the head coach at USU Eastern.
3. Walter K. Granger
1888-1978 (aged 90)
postmaster
farmer
husbandry worker
politician
Walter Keil Granger was a U.S. representative from Utah.
4. Katie Savannah Steele
1992-. (aged 34)
Katie Savannah Steele is an American model rocketeer. She is actively involved in National Association of Rocketry. She has been featured in several magazines, including Sport Rocketry. Her notable works include three separate national championships at the National Association of Rocketry's Annual Meet (2006, 2008, 2010). She is known for competing on the United States team in the World Space...
+ show more
5. Jill Stevens
1983-. (aged 43)
beauty pageant contestant
Jill Stevens is a Miss Utah 2007. She was chosen as Miss Southern Utah University and Miss Davis County. She is a combat medic in the Utah Army National Guard and served as a medic during an 18-month tour in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2006 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
+ show more
6. Kerry Rupp
1954-. (aged 72)
basketball coach
basketball player
Kerry Lee Rupp is an American college basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach with Green Bay Phoenix, serving as the offensive coordinator. Rupp's previous stints as an assistant coach include Detroit Mercy, Montana, UAB, Indiana, and Utah. Rupp served as head coach at Utah (interim) in 2004 and at Louisiana Tech from 2007 to 2011. From 2014 to...
+ show more
7. Matt Hodgson
1991-. (aged 35)
basketball player
Matthew John Hodgson is an Australian professional basketball player for the Southern Districts Spartans of the NBL1 North. He played college basketball for Southern Utah University and Saint Mary's College of California before debuting in the National Basketball League (NBL) and playing for the Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets and Perth Wildcats.
+ show more
8. Nick Miller
1987-. (aged 39)
American football player
Nickelous Miller is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.
+ show more
9. Gabe Freeman
1985-. (aged 41)
basketball player
Gabriel DeAndre Freeman is an American former professional basketball player. Freeman also has experience with the London Lightning in the NBL Canada and steered them to a 2012 Finals victory. He won the ASEAN Basketball League championship with the Philippine Patriots in 2009 and led the San Miguel Beermen to a 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference title earlier that year.
+ show more
10. Fred House
1978-. (aged 48)
basketball player
Frederick Deshune House is an American retired professional basketball player.
11. LeShaun Sims
1993-. (aged 33)
American football player
LeShaun V. Sims is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Sims has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals.
+ show more
12. James Cowser
1990-. (aged 36)
American football player
James Cowser is an American former professional football outside linebacker and current college football coach. He is the defensive ends coach for Weber State University, a position he has held since 2024. He played college football at Southern Utah. Cowser was Football Championship Subdivision Defensive Player of the Year (2015). He held the official NCAA all-time sack record (42.5) until...
+ show more
13. Lonnie Mayne
1944-1978 (aged 34)
actor
professional wrestler
Ronald Doyle "Lonnie" Mayne was an American professional wrestler in the 1960s and 1970s who frequently went by the name Moondog Mayne. He wrestled in various National Wrestling Alliance territories, as well as the World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1973.
+ show more
14. Celeste Maloy
1981-. (aged 45)
lawyer
politician
conservationist
Celeste Maloy is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for Utah's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as chief legal counsel to U.S. Representative Chris Stewart and as the deputy county attorney for Washington County, Utah. Prior to her legal career, Maloy worked as a conservationist for the...
+ show more
15. Cameron Levins
1989-. (aged 37)
athletics competitor
Cameron Levins is a Canadian long-distance runner. He won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Levins had the best-Canadian finish ever of fourth in the marathon at the 2022 World Championships, setting a new Canadian record. He was formerly the North American record holder for the marathon and Canadian holder for the half-marathon and...
+ show more
16. Derral Eves
1974-. (aged 52)
chairperson
SEO specialist
YouTuber
consultant
social media marketer
Derral Eves is an American digital media producer. He is known for executive producing The Chosen, the first multi-season series about the life of Christ, and the highest crowd-funded TV series or film project of all time.
+ show more
17. Keala Settle
1975-. (aged 51)
singer
stage actor
television actor
actor
film actor
Keala Settle is a British-American actress and singer. Settle originated the role of Norma Valverde in Hands on a Hardbody, which ran on Broadway in 2013, and was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. In 2016, she was in the original Broadway cast of Waitress portraying...
+ show more
18. Mike Leavitt
1951-. (aged 75)
elector
politician
blogger
public figure
economist
Michael Okerlund Leavitt is an American politician who served as the 20th United States secretary of health and human services from 2005 to 2009 and the 10th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2003 to 2005. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 14th governor of Utah from 1993 to 2003.
+ show more
19. Claybourne Elder
1982-. (aged 44)
musical theatre actor
television actor
stage actor
Claybourne Elder is an American actor, singer, and writer who is best known for his work on television and on Broadway.
20. Barret Peery
1971-. (aged 55)
basketball player
basketball coach
Barret Rex Peery is an American college basketball coach and current assistant coach at UNLV. He was formerly the head coach at Portland State.
21. Harry Reid
1939-2021 (aged 82)
city attorney
lawyer
politician
Harry Reid is an English actor. He is known for his role as Ben Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, from 2014 until 2018.