Christensen takes over UW Football

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Written by Tyler Richards

Wednesday, 03 December 2008 09:26

Based on Missouri Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Dave Christensen’s resume, the football program at the University of Wyoming could be flying mile-high next season.

Christensen was named the 31st head coach in Wyoming Football History on Sunday. Rumors circulated early last weekend that Christensen and his wife, Susie, flew into Laramie Saturday evening to meet with UW officials, but flew back to Columbia, Mo. to conclude his assistant coaching career at Missouri.

According to University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman, Christensen could turn the Wyoming offense to be one of the best in Wyoming history.

“We are thrilled to be able to attract a coach with the experience that Coach (Dave) Christensen brings to our program,” Burman said. “He is one of the great offensive minds in college football, and he will bring a very exciting brand of football to Jonah Field.”

According to a press release, Wyoming will pay Christensen a base rate of $180,000 per year, with the possibility of Christensen banking in up to $750,000 per year depending on academic, competitive and revenue incentives.

Christensen, however, is not a Cowboy yet.

The Missouri assistant coach still has two games to assist Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel and the No. 11 ranked Mizzo Tigers.

Missouri (9-3) faces Oklahoma this weekend in the Big 12 football championship game, which will most likely be followed up with a BCS game later this month.

Burman said of the coaches interviewed for the position, Christensen will fit the best.

“The plan he presented to us for building a comprehensive program was the best we heard in our search process. I am confident that he will put an outstanding coaching staff together, and that they will hit the ground running,” Burman said. “With Dave leading Cowboy Football, I believe our program will make dramatic progress in the coming years and return to a position of prominence in the Mountain West Conference.”

Meanwhile, Christensen said he is excited for the opportunities ahead as a Cowboy.

“I want to thank Tom Burman and President Buchanan for the confidence they’ve shown in giving me this opportunity,” Christensen said. “I also want to thank Gary Pinkel (head coach at Missouri), who I have coached with for the past 17 years, for his friendship and for the opportunities he has provided me professionally through the years.

“Finally to the Wyoming players. I am a blue-collar coach, and I know that the Cowboys have a reputation for being a blue-collar team. I can’t wait to get back to Laramie, meet all of you and go to work.”

Christensen plans to begin the recruiting process immediately. The future Cowboy said he plans to hire assistant coaches as soon as possible.

If Christensen can use his resume to persuade future athletes to attend UW, the Cowboys should have no problem attracting newcomers.

In 2007, Rivals.com named Christensen the National Offensive Coordinator of the Year. He was also a finalist for the 2007 Frank Broyles Award, finishing runner-up for the award that honors that top assistant coaches in that nation.

Christensen’s Missouri-led offense helped the Tigers to the Big 12 Championship twice in the past two years (2007, 2008). This year, the Tigers are ranked fourth in scoring offense at 45 points per game and are sixth in offense per game, averaging 509.4 yards per game.

Christensen, who will move his wife and three children, Katie, D.J. and Emily, to Laramie, said he is excited to be the future coach of Cowboy football.

“The opportunity to become a head coach is something I’ve been preparing for my entire career,” he said. “This is a great job at an outstanding university. Wyoming has a rich football tradition, and combined with the new, state-of-the art facilities, I know we can win here. I have already begun to put my coaching staff together, and we will strive to provide the people of Wyoming with a great product in all phases of the game. I can’t wait to get started, and my family can’t wait to become a part of this great state and this great University.”

Christensen graduated from Western Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1985, and then received his Master of Science degree in college instruction and sports science in 1988 from Eastern Washington.

Christensen replaces Joe Glenn, who was terminated from his position at Wyoming after spending six seasons with the Cowboys.

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