Omer LaJeunesse
Encyclopedia
Omer LaJeunesse was an American football
player and coach. He played football at the University of Michigan
from 1929 to 1931. He served as the head coach of the Michigan Tech Huskies
football team from 1957 to 1962 and the head coach of the swim team from 1954 through at least 1969.
in Michigan's Upper Peninsula> He attended Ironwood High School where he played fullback
on the 1926 football team that won the title of Menominee Range champions. LaJeunesse was selected as an All-UPI fullback in 1926.
. He was a backup at the fullback position in 1929, and a starter at the guard
position for the Michigan Wolverines football
team in 1930 and 1931. During his two years as a starter, the Wolverines compiled a record of 16 wins, 1 loss and 2 ties. LaJeunesse received national press attention in November 1931 when he revealed that he had received an anonymous letter offering an unnamed sum of money if he would throw Michigan's football game against the Michigan State Spartans
. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from the University of Michigan.
, Battle Creek, Michigan
and Iron Mountain, Michigan
. In 12 years at Iron Mountain, he had a winning percentage of 68% in football and 61% in basketball.
as a physical education and instructor and assistant football coach with responsibilities for the linemen. In July 1957, after three years as an assistant to Al Bovard, LaJeunesse was promoted to the head football coach at Michigan Tech. He served as Michigan Tech's head football coach from 1957 to 1962. His best season as a head coach was 1959 when he led the Michigan Tech Huskies
to a 6-2 record. In his final season as head coach, the 1962 team finished 0-6-1. La Jeunesse also served as the coach of the swim and softball teams and equipment manager during his tenure at Michigan Tech. In December 1962, LaJeunesse asked to be relieved as football coach, citing the physical strain of coaching three sports. LaJeunesse continued to serve as Michigan Tech's swim coach from 1954 through at least through the 1969 season.
In 1974, LaJeunesse was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. Michigan Tech has established the Omer LaJeunesse Scholastic Achievement Award which is given annually to a football player with the highest grade point average.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He played football at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1929 to 1931. He served as the head coach of the Michigan Tech Huskies
Michigan Tech Huskies
Michigan Technological University's sports teams are called the Huskies. The Huskies participate in NCAA Division II as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a member of the Central Collegiate Ski Association for men's and women's nordic skiing, and NCAA Division I...
football team from 1957 to 1962 and the head coach of the swim team from 1954 through at least 1969.
Ironwood High School
LaJeunesse grew up in Iron MountainIron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,154. It is the county seat of Dickinson County, in the state's Upper Peninsula....
in Michigan's Upper Peninsula> He attended Ironwood High School where he played fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
on the 1926 football team that won the title of Menominee Range champions. LaJeunesse was selected as an All-UPI fullback in 1926.
University of Michigan
before enrolling at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He was a backup at the fullback position in 1929, and a starter at the guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
position for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team in 1930 and 1931. During his two years as a starter, the Wolverines compiled a record of 16 wins, 1 loss and 2 ties. LaJeunesse received national press attention in November 1931 when he revealed that he had received an anonymous letter offering an unnamed sum of money if he would throw Michigan's football game against the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from the University of Michigan.
High school coach
After graduating from Michigan, LaJeunesse served as a high school coach in Hillsdale, MichiganHillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale is a city in the state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,305. It is the county seat of Hillsdale County, and is run as a council-manager government....
, Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
and Iron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,154. It is the county seat of Dickinson County, in the state's Upper Peninsula....
. In 12 years at Iron Mountain, he had a winning percentage of 68% in football and 61% in basketball.
Michigan Tech
In 1954, he was hired by Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University is a public research university located in Houghton, Michigan, United States. Its main campus sits on on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake...
as a physical education and instructor and assistant football coach with responsibilities for the linemen. In July 1957, after three years as an assistant to Al Bovard, LaJeunesse was promoted to the head football coach at Michigan Tech. He served as Michigan Tech's head football coach from 1957 to 1962. His best season as a head coach was 1959 when he led the Michigan Tech Huskies
Michigan Tech Huskies
Michigan Technological University's sports teams are called the Huskies. The Huskies participate in NCAA Division II as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a member of the Central Collegiate Ski Association for men's and women's nordic skiing, and NCAA Division I...
to a 6-2 record. In his final season as head coach, the 1962 team finished 0-6-1. La Jeunesse also served as the coach of the swim and softball teams and equipment manager during his tenure at Michigan Tech. In December 1962, LaJeunesse asked to be relieved as football coach, citing the physical strain of coaching three sports. LaJeunesse continued to serve as Michigan Tech's swim coach from 1954 through at least through the 1969 season.
Family and honors
LaJeunesse had five sons, Ted, Dave, Tom, Jerry and Terry. His oldest son, Ted LaJeunesse, played football at Michigan Tech from 1954 to 1957.In 1974, LaJeunesse was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. Michigan Tech has established the Omer LaJeunesse Scholastic Achievement Award which is given annually to a football player with the highest grade point average.