Story by UMC Sports Information Director, Shawn Smith.
The University of Minnesota Crookston is saddened to learn of the passing of Jim LeClair, who was part of the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class at Minnesota Crookston in 1999.
LeClair was one of the all-time greats at Minnesota Crookston, as a football player and wrestler from 1968-70. He had an instant impact on the University of Minnesota Crookston Technical College football team, helping lead the Trojans to a 6-2 record as a freshman. LeClair helped his squad to a national ranking during the 1968 season. The Trojans went on win the Northern Conference Title in the Minnesota Junior College League. LeClair went on to earn NJCAA All-Region and All-Minnesota accolades.
As a sophomore for the Trojans, LeClair was a captain and aided the team to a second-place finish in conference. For a second-consecutive season, he was named to the Minnesota Crookston Junior College All-Conference Team.
LeClair also excelled on the wrestling mat, where he finished his final year at Minnesota Crookston with a record of 25-2 in the 190-pound division. In addition to being captain of the wrestling team, LeClair finished his final season ranked fourth in the nation, and first in the state. He was also named outstanding wrestler in three tourneys.
The roots LeClair set at Minnesota Crookston helped to lay the foundation for an illustrious career to follow. He went on the University of North Dakota where he was named to the Little All-America team in 1971. He played two years at UND and was named a two-time North Central All-Conference player and selected as the league’s Most Valuable Defensive Lineman in 1971.
LeClair went on to be drafted into the National Football League by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1972 and went on to play 14 seasons of professional football spending 12 years with the Bengals and two years with the New Jersey Generals. LeClair appeared in Super Bowl XVI on Jan. 24, 1982 with the Bengals against the San Francisco 49ers. LeClair started 128 games in his career for the Bengals from 1972-83, notching 10 career interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries, and 3.5 sacks.
LeClair is a member of the Minnesota Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame, National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, UND Athletic Hall of Fame, South St. Paul High School Hall of Fame, and North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.
He went on to serve as head coach at Mayville State University for three seasons and also had an insurance business later in life in Mayville, N.D.
The University of Minnesota Crookston Practice Field was named Jim LeClair Practice Field in 2009 in his honor.
LeClair is survived by his wife, Betty, and three children. Funeral services will be held Fri., Nov. 8 in Mayville, N.D.
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