Omer LaJeunesse (May 4, 1908 – May 15, 1994) was an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

player and coach. He played football at the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

from 1929 to 1931. LaJeunesse served as the head football coach of at Michigan College of Mining and Technology—now known as

Michigan Technological University Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech, MTU, or simply Tech) is a public research university in Houghton, Michigan, founded in 1885 as the Michigan Mining School, the first post-secondary institution in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. ...

from 1957 to 1962 and the head coach of the swim team from 1954 through at least 1969.

Iron Mountain High School

LaJeunesse grew up in Iron Mountain in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He attended Iron Mountain High School where he played

fullback Fullback or Full back may refer to: Sports * A position in various kinds of football, including: ** Full-back (association football), in association football (soccer), a defender playing in a wide position ** Fullback (gridiron football), in Americ ...

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

. He was a backup at the fullback position in 1929, and a starter at the

guard Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison ...

position for the

Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football team represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins in college football history. The team is known for its ...

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.

High school coach

After graduating from Michigan, LaJeunesse served as a high school coach in Hillsdale, Michigan,

Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, Michigan, Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle C ...

and Iron Mountain, Michigan. 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

as a physical education instructor and assistant football coach with responsibilities for the linemen. In July 1957, after three years as an assistant to

Al Bovard Alan J. Bovard (September 24, 1906 – July 11, 1983) was an American football player and coach. He was an All-Big Ten Conference center at the University of Michigan in 1929. He later served as the athletic director at Michigan Technological Uni ...

, 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 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 (GLIAC), a member of the Central Collegiate Ski Association f ...

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 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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lajeunesse, Omer 1908 births 1994 deaths American football fullbacks American football guards Michigan Tech Huskies football coaches Michigan Wolverines football players College swimming coaches in the United States High school basketball coaches in Michigan High school football coaches in Michigan People from Iron Mountain, Michigan Players of American football from Michigan