Hall of Fame
One of the best dual-sport athletes in Montclair State history, Leroy Horn definitely had a flair for the dramatic. However, there probably aren’t too many athletes who can say they set an NCAA Football All-Divisions record as well as hitting the game-winning home run to capture the national championship in a career. On the gridiron, Horn was an outstanding running back/kick returner for the then-Indians in the 1980s. He led Montclair State to three straight NJAC Championships from 1984-86 as it won 18 consecutive league contests. In addition, Montclair State qualified for the NCAA Division III Playoffs in 1985 and 1986, reaching the quarterfinal round in both seasons. A First Team All-NJAC selection as a returner in 1985, Horn became a two-time First Team pick at running back in 1986 and 1987. He ran for a school-record 1,235 yards and scored seven touchdowns during the 1986 campaign. The following year he finished the season as the all-time leading rusher in school history with 2,942 yards. Horn also finished as the all-time leader in rushing attempts (591) and all-purpose yards (3,947) and was sixth in touchdowns scored (20), fourth in total offense (2,942 yards) and 10th in points scored (120). But for all the numbers Horn recorded, perhaps he is most remembered for one afternoon at Sprague Field in November, 1985 when he literally ran Montclair State to a victory over Jersey City State. Taking a handoff to open the second half, Horn rushed for 310 yards in the final 30 minutes to set an NCAA record that stood for over two decades. An outfielder on the baseball team, Horn hit .326 with 172 hits, 33 doubles, 18 home runs and 139 RBI over three seasons. In 1989, Horn was named First Team All-NJAC, All-Mid-Atlantic Region and Third Team All-America by the American Baseball Coaches Association as he helped lead Montclair State to a school-record 37 victories. Horn ranks among the Top 20 in school history in several categories, including home runs. His biggest blast was a two-run laser shot over the right-centerfield fence in the bottom of the 10th inning at Pioneer Park in Marietta, Ohio that gave Montclair State a 13-12 win over Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the baseball program’s first NCAA Division III national championship.
