GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Two former University of North Dakota standouts have been inducted into the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. Jim Kleinsasser and DeWayne "Dewey" King received the Cliff Cushman Award as they were inducted into the NDSHF at a banquet last Saturday at the Gladstone Inn & Suites in Jamestown, N.D.

Kleinsasser, a Carrington, N.D., native, attended UND from 1995-98, leaving the school as one of the most decorated football student-athletes in history. The tight end ranked in the top 10 in receiving yards and touchdowns at the end of his career. He was a three-time All-North Central Conference selection, and earned All-American honors in 1997 and 1998. Kleinsasser also played basketball his freshman (1995-96) season.

Kleinsasser was considered one of the top tight ends in the country, and was named the starter for the Senior Bowl, which highlights the top seniors from all NCAA divisions. Kleinsasser was drafted in the second round (44th overall) by the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, where he continues his professional career today.

King, a Cando, N.D., native, lettered all four years for the UND football team from 1945-49. He was named to the All-NCC team in 1948 and was named UND's Honor-Athlete of the Year in 1949.

After his playing career was over, King coached various football teams across the nation at various levels. He coached at UND and McKinley High School before being named assistant coach at Michigan State, who went undefeated and won a national championship in 1952, won 1953 Big Ten championship and was the 1954 Rose Bowl winner. He continued onto the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers and San Jose State. During his time at San Jose State, he also served as Interim Athletic Director in 1971. He became the head coach at Wheaton College in 1973, before retiring from coaching and accepting a job as athletic director of Carroll College in 1980.

King is a Sioux Award winner and a 2001 inductee in the UND Athletic Hall of Fame. He has also been awarded the Thomas J. Clifford Award for outstanding achievements in coaching.

The North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame is headquartered in the Jamestown Civic Center in Jamestown, N.D. It honors athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials that have played a major role in the growth and development of sports in North Dakota. Its goal is to further promote sports and sportsmanship to the public of North Dakota by so honoring those who have made outstanding contributions in sports.