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List of sportspeople educated at the United States Military Academy

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The United States Military Academy (USMA) is an undergraduate college in West Point, New York that educates and commissions officers for the United States Army. The Academy is a member of the Division I Patriot League in most sports,[1] but its men's ice hockey program competes in the Atlantic Hockey league and its football program competes independent of a league.[2][3] The academy fields 24 club sports teams. In addition, about 65% of the cadets compete in intramural sports, known at the academy as "company athletics".[4]

This list is drawn from alumni of the Military Academy who are athletes or athletic coaches. Eleven alumni have competed in the Olympic Games as athletes or coaches. The first was George S. Patton (class of 1909) in the modern pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics. The most recent is Mike Krzyzewski (class of 1969), who was head coach of the U.S. men's basketball team at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Three alumni are recipients of college football's Heisman Trophy: Doc Blanchard (class of 1947), Glenn Davis (class of 1947), and Pete Dawkins (class of 1959). Bob Mischak (class of 1954) was named No. 7 on NFL.com's list of Top Ten All Time NFL Players from service academies and was a 3x Super Bowl winner. (Note – There are at least 2 others who were on the US Olympic Team Handball squad ... Craig Gilbert – '78; Pete Lash – '81 (who went on to garner MVP awards at the World Championship); and possibly Jim Thome – '68, as a long-time US team coach. / asst. coach. Gilbert and Lash are both shown on the West Point wall of Olympic athletes at Kimsey Athletic Center, at the south end of Michie Stadium. Gilbert participated in '84, and Lash in '84 and '88.)

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Athletic figures

[edit]
Note: "Class year" refers to the alumni's class year, which usually is the same year they graduated. However, in times of war, classes often graduate early.

Athletes

[edit]
Name Class year Notability References
Abner Doubleday 1842 Major General during the American Civil War; subject of the myth that he invented baseball [5]
Guy Henry 1898 Major General; Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, World War I, World War II; commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment; recipient of two Army Distinguished Service Medals and the Silver Star; son of Brigadier General, Medal of Honor recipient, and Puerto Rico Governor Guy Vernor Henry; Bronze Medalist at the 1912 Summer Olympics in equestrianism
Paul Bunker 1903 Colonel; selected as a member of the College Football All-America Team in 1901 and 1902 and as the retroactive Heisman Trophy winner for 1902 by Sports Illustrated; member of the College Football Hall of Fame [6]
George S. Patton 1909 General; 1912 Summer Olympics, modern pentathlon, 5th place; Pancho Villa Expedition; World War II; Battle of Saint-Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne Offensive; commander of the 1st Tank Brigade/304th Tank Brigade; commander of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment; commander of the 2nd Armored Division; commander of the II Corps; commander of the Seventh United States Army, Third United States Army, and Fifteenth United States Army during World War II; descendant of Brigadier General Hugh Mercer; father of Major General George Patton IV; Patton series of tanks were named for him [7][8]
Elmer Oliphant 1918 World War I; professional football player; considered one of the all-time greatest college football players; established world record in 220-yard (200 m) low hurdles [9]
P.C. Hains 1924 Major General; cavalry officer; modern pentathlon at the 1928 Summer Olympics [10]
John Roosma 1926 Colonel during World War II; Basketball Hall of Fame; the Academy's basketball Most Valuable Player award is named after him [11]
Robin Olds 1943 Brigadier General; World War II, Vietnam War; group commander in the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing; commander of the No. 1 Squadron RAF and 434th Fighter Squadron; commander of the 81st Tactical Wing and the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing; recipient of the Air Force Cross, two Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, and four Silver Stars; son of Major General Robert Olds; member of the College Football Hall of Fame [12]
Doc Blanchard 1947 United States Air Force fighter pilot; combat veteran of Vietnam War; football player known as "Mr. Inside" who won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and James E. Sullivan Award, all in 1945 [13]
Glenn Woodward Davis 1947 Served three years in the Army before joining the Los Angeles Rams; football player known as "Mr. Outside" who won the Maxwell Award (1944) and Heisman Trophy (1946) [14]
James V. Hartinger 1949 United States Air Force General; fighter pilot; combat veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee; Hartinger Medal for significant contributions to the military space mission named after him [15]
Dan Foldberg 1951 Colonel; infantry officer and combat veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War; football and lacrosse All-American at the Academy; Earl Blaik called him the greatest end he coached; drafted by the Detroit Lions football team but chose a career in the Army instead [16]
Bill Carpenter 1959 Lieutenant General; Distinguished Service Cross recipient during the Vietnam War; paratrooper; football player known as the "Lonesome End"; College Football Hall of Fame inductee [17]
Pete Dawkins 1959 Brigadier General; Heisman Trophy Maxwell Award winner (1958); Rhodes Scholar; PhD from Princeton University; paratrooper; recipient of two Bronze Stars during the Vietnam War; only cadet in history to simultaneously be Brigade Commander, President of his Class, captain of the football team, and a "Star Man" in the top five percent of his class academically [18]
Ronald Zinn 1962 Captain; killed in action in 1965 during the Vietnam War; race walker in the 1960 Summer Olympics and 6th place in racewalking in the 1964 Summer Olympics [19]
Mike Silliman 1966 Captain; gold medal in men's basketball at the 1968 Summer Olympics [20]
Michael Thornberry 1994 First Lieutenant; ninth place in team handball in the 1996 Summer Olympics [21]
Dan Browne 1997 First Lieutenant; professional distance runner; 2002 U.S. Marathon champion; 2004 Summer Olympics competitor at 10 km and marathon [22]
Ronnie McAda 1997 First Lieutenant; last pick in the 1997 NFL draft, selected by the Green Bay Packers, thus earning the distinction of being a Mr. Irrelevant [23]
Anita Allen 2000 Captain; placed eighteenth in the modern pentathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics [24]
Lorenzo Smith III 2000 Captain; placed sixth in bobsledding at the 2006 Winter Olympics [25]
Boyd Melson 2003 Captain; boxer, 2004 World Military Boxing Championships, gold medal (69-kg. weight class) [26]
Caleb Campbell 2007 First Lieutenant; selected by the Detroit Lions with the 218th pick (7th round) in the 2008 NFL draft [27]
Alejandro Villanueva 2010 Captain; Infantry officer, combat veteran of the War in Afghanistan, and recipient of the Bronze Star with "V" Device; offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens [28]
Stewart Glenister 2011 West Point cadet; represented American Samoa in 50 m freestyle swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics [29][30]
Stephen Scherer 2011 West Point cadet; made the U.S. 2008 Summer Olympics team in 10 m air rifle team at the age of 19 as a plebe [31][32]
Josh McNary 2011 First Lieutenant; linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts [33]
Collin Mooney 2012 First Lieutenant; fullback who played for the Tennessee Titans and the Atlanta Falcons [34][35]
Chris Rowley 2013 American baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). [36]
Brett Toth 2018 American football offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). [37][38]
Jon Rosoff 2018 American baseball Minor League catcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). [39]
Cam Opp 2019 American baseball Minor League pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB) and Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). [40]
Cole Christiansen 2019 American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Super Bowl champion with Kansas City in 2022 and 2023 (LVII) and (LVIII). [41]
Elijah Riley 2020 American football defensive back for the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). [42]
Jacob Hurtubise 2020 American baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). [43]
Jon Rhattigan 2021 American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). [44]
Andre Carter II 2023 American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). [45]
Ross Friedrick 2023 American baseball Minor League first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). [46]
Jimmy Ciarlo 2024 American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Ciarlo signed as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2024 season. [47]
Derek Berg 2024 American baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). Berg was selected in the 10th round of the 2024 MLB Draft and debuted with Bradenton in Aug. 2024. [48]
Felix "Doc" Blanchard
Anita Allen
Boyd Melson
Caleb Campbell

Coaches

[edit]
Name Class year Notability References
Charles S. Farnsworth 1883 Major General; Spanish–American War; University of North Dakota head football coach (1895–1896) [49]
Joseph Stilwell 1904 General; organized and was head coach of the first basketball team at West Point [50]
Charles Dudley Daly 1905 Lieutenant Colonel; World War I; "Godfather of West Point Football"; early promoter of American football [51]
Robert Neyland 1916 Brigadier General; World War I; University of Tennessee head football coach (1926–1939) and (1946–1952); member of College Football Hall of Fame (as a coach); four-time national champion and five-time SEC champion at Tennessee [52]
Earl Blaik 1920 Cavalry officer for two years; head football coach at Dartmouth College (1934–1940) and United States Military Academy (1941–1958); member of College Football Hall of Fame; two-time national champion at Army (as a coach) [53]
Robert V. Whitlow 1943 United States Army Air Forces and Air Force fighter and bomber pilot, World War II; head football coach (1955) and athletic director (1954–1957) of the Air Force Academy; "athletic director" of the Chicago Cubs baseball club (1963–1965) [54]
Bill Yeoman 1948 Head coach at the University of Houston; Member of the College Football Hall of Fame; Inventor of the Veer Offense; Played prominent role in racial integration of college athletics in the South; Captain of undefeated 1948 Army Football team and second team All-American center; Played for Earl Blaik; Only underclassman to captain an Army football team
Mike Krzyzewski 1969 Captain; recipient of West Point Association of Graduates Distinguished Graduate award in 2005; head basketball coach, West Point (1975–1981) and Duke University (1981–present); men's basketball gold medal-winning team head coach at 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympics; five-time NCAA national champion; 2001 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame [55]
Charles Daly
Mike Krzyzewski

References

[edit]
General

^ a: Special Collections: Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy. West Point, NY: United States Military Academy Library. 1950.

Inline citations
  1. ^ "Quick Facts". Go Army Sports.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  2. ^ "Army Hockey Guide". Go Army Sports.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  3. ^ "Army Football to Leave Conference USA After 2004 Season". The Official Website of Conference USA. 10 July 2003. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  4. ^ "Top 15 Sport Education Teams in America". Institute for International Sport. Archived from the original on 9 November 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  5. ^ Eicher, John H.; David J. Eicher (2001). Civil War High Commands. Stanford University Press. p. 213. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
  6. ^ "Battery Paul D. Bunker, BCN-127". The Fort MacArthur Museum Association. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  7. ^ "George S. Patton". Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  8. ^ D'Este, Carlo (1995). Patton: A Genius for War. New York: Harper Perennial. pp. 58, 131. ISBN 0-06-092762-3.
  9. ^ Schmidt, Ray. "Elmer Oliphant". College Football Historical Society Newsletter. November 1996.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  10. ^ "Special Collections: Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy, 1930, Vol 7" (PDF). United States Military Academy Library. 1930. pp. 1855–1856. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  11. ^ "Matt Bell Wins Roosma Award For Third Straight Year". Go Army Sports.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  12. ^ "Robin Olds". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  13. ^ Goldstein, Richard (10 April 2009). "Doc Blanchard, Army's Mr. Inside, Is Dead at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  14. ^ "College Football Hall of Famer Glenn Davis Dies at 80". College Football Hall of Fame. 10 March 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  15. ^ "Hartinger, James V." US Lacrosse. Archived from the original on 5 June 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  16. ^ "Blaik Has His Problems, But Cadets Still Look Like National Champion". The Harvard Crimson. 21 October 1950. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  17. ^ Kavetski, Lee (16 June 1966). "Chotto Matte". Pacific Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  18. ^ "1958 -24th Award Peter Dawkins Army Back". Heisman Trophy. Archived from the original on 10 May 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  19. ^ "Ron Zinn". Sports Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  20. ^ "Michael Barnwell Silliman". Go Army Sports.com. Retrieved 24 May 2009.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "U. S. Army Olympians". United States Army. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  22. ^ "A Disciplined Road". GoArmySports.com. Retrieved 20 May 2009.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "Classic Friday Tailgate". ESPN. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  24. ^ "Women at West Point, Chronology of Significant Events". United States Military Academy Director of Communications. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  25. ^ "Bill Status of HR1106 94th General Assembly". Illinois General Assembly. 30 March 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  26. ^ "Melson wins U.S. boxing quarterfinals". USA Today. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  27. ^ Gosselin, Rick (11 March 2008). "Duty calls: Army says Cadets can turn pro now". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  28. ^ "From Army Ranger to Steelers tackle, Villanueva excels at protection". CBS Sports. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  29. ^ "West Point frosh from Temple to swim in Olympics". Killeen Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  30. ^ "Cadet News, Olympic Bound". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 24 May 2009.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ "Team USA Profile". USA Shooting. Archived from the original on 7 July 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  32. ^ "Cadet Club News, Olympic Bound". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 24 April 2009.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ "Army lieutenant trying to stick on Colts' roster". USA Today. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  34. ^ "FALCONS ADD FORMER ARMY FB MOONEY". Atlanta Falcons. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  35. ^ "NFL Careers Continue For Three Army Players". Army West Point Athletics. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  36. ^ "Chris Rowley Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  37. ^ "2 West Point football players to face off in the Super Bowl". 12 February 2023.
  38. ^ https://www.westpoint.edu/news/press-releases/west-point-graduate-play-nfl [bare URL]
  39. ^ "Field general: Rosoff goes from Army to Erie".
  40. ^ "Cam Opp Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News".
  41. ^ "2 West Point football players to face off in the Super Bowl". 12 February 2023.
  42. ^ "Catching up with Elijah Riley".
  43. ^ "Hurtubise becomes second West Point alum to play in MLB". MLB.com.
  44. ^ "Jon Rhattigan Stats, News and Video - LB". NFL.com.
  45. ^ "Andre Carter II embracing civilian life with military focus". 4 August 2023.
  46. ^ "Ross Friedrick Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News".
  47. ^ "Jimmy Ciarlo Receives NFL Opportunity from New York Jets".
  48. ^ "Derek Berg Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News".
  49. ^ "In Memory". Assembly. United States Military Academy Association of Graduates: 57. April 1956.
  50. ^ "Joseph Stilwell". Yonkers History.org. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  51. ^ "Eleven Former Athletes Will Enter Army Sports Hall of Fame in September". West Point.org. 9 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  52. ^ "Robert R. Neyland History Page". The University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  53. ^ "Hall of Fame Dedicates Sculpture in Honor of Legendary West Point Coach Earl Blaik". College Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 31 October 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  54. ^ "Robert V. Whitlow". West Point Association of Graduates. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  55. ^ "2005 Distinguished Graduate Award". West Point Association of Graduates. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2009.

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