Dave Christensen

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1961)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| embed =

| name = Dave Christensen

| image = Coach Dave Christensen in 2013.jpg

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| caption = Christensen in 2013

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| position = Head coach

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|1|17}}

| birth_place = Everett, Washington, U.S.

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| college = Washington (1980–1982)

| undraftedyear = 1983

| pastcoaching =

Western Washington (1983)
Running backs coach
Sehome (1984)
Offensive line & defensive line coach
Everett (WA) (1985)
Offensive line & defensive line coach
Eastern Washington (1986–1987)
Offensive line & defensive line coach
Spokane Falls (1988)
Head coach
Washington (1989–1990)
Offensive line coach
Idaho State (1990–1991)
Offensive line, tight ends & running backs coach
Toledo (1992–1996)
Offensive line coach
Toledo (1997–2000)
Offensive coordinator
Missouri (2001–2008)
Offensive coordinator
Wyoming (2009–2013)
Head coach
Utah (2014)
Offensive coordinator & tight ends coach
Texas A&M (2015)
Offensive line coach & run game coordinator
Arizona State (2017)
Consultant
Arizona State (2018–2020)
Offensive line coach
Panthers Wrocław (2022–2024)
Head coach

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| highlights =

MW Coach of the Year (2011)

| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|27|35|record=y}}

| playoff_record = {{Winning percentage|1|1|record=y}} (bowls)

| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|27|35|record=y}}

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David Joe Christensen (born January 17, 1961) is an American football coach and former player. He was assistant coach at Arizona State. He previously worked as the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator for the Texas A&M Aggies. He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the University of Utah. He was previously the head coach at the University of Wyoming from 2009 to 2013, where he compiled a record of 27 wins and 35 losses ({{winning percentage|27|35}}). Prior to Wyoming, Christensen was the offensive coordinator for the University of Missouri and the University of Toledo.

Early life

A native of Everett, Washington,{{Cite web |date=2017-10-11 |title=Everett native Christensen now a consultant at Arizona State |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/everett-native-christensen-now-a-consultant-at-arizona-state/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=HeraldNet.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2010-09-07 |title=Everett native Christenson dealing with death of one his players at Wyoming |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/everett-native-christenson-dealing-with-death-of-one-his-players-at-wyoming/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=HeraldNet.com |language=en-US}} Christensen attended the University of Washington in Seattle, where he played under head coach Don James on the Huskies football team from 1980 to 1982. He earned a B.A. degree in sociology from Western Washington University in 1985 and a M.S. degree in sports science from Eastern Washington University in 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.gowyo.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/christensen_dave00.html|title=Dave Christensen|publisher=University of Wyoming Athletics|accessdate=November 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110234802/http://www.gowyo.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/christensen_dave00.html|archive-date=November 10, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Coaching career

Christensen was formerly the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the University of Missouri. He served as an offensive assistant under Gary Pinkel for 19 years, including the last 16 as his offensive coordinator. He first joined Pinkel at the University of Toledo in 1990 as offensive line coach, and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1992. Pinkel left for Missouri in 2001, and brought Christensen along as his offensive coordinator. From 2005 to 2008, Christensen employed a passing-oriented version of the no-huddle spread offense.[http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/christensen_dave01.html Player Bio: Dave Christensen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013085255/http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/christensen_dave01.html |date=2008-10-13 }}, University of Missouri Tigers Football official website, accessed 24 November 2008.

In the 2007 season, Christensen's offense used this scheme to good effect by scoring a school record 558 points. Additionally, Missouri ranked fifth in total offensive yards (490.29 per game), eighth in scoring offense (39.86 points per game), and ninth in passing yards (314.07 per game). The same season propelled Chase Daniel to Heisman finalist status. Martin Rucker and Jeremy Maclin were named consensus All-Americans, making it the first time two Tigers were named as such in the same season. Christensen himself was a finalist for the Broyles Award and Rivals.com named him as the Offensive Coordinator of the Year.

Christensen's name had been mentioned with respect to the head coaching position of several ailing programs, namely, New Mexico,Pat Forde, [https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3717027 Missouri, Pinkel agree on extension that will reportedly give him big raise], ESPN.com, 24 November 2008. Washington,Ted Miller, [http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-3-178/Washington-wants-next-coach-to-make-a-big-splash.html Washington wants next coach to make a big splash] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031064024/http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-3-178/Washington-wants-next-coach-to-make-a-big-splash.html |date=2008-10-31 }}, ESPN.com, 27 October 2008. Washington State,[https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=3130640&type=story Several names being speculated as candidates for WSU job], ESPN.com, 27 November 2007. and Wyoming.[https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3721657&campaign=rss&source=NCFHeadlines Wyoming, Glenn part ways after six years, one bowl berth], ESPN.com, 23 November 2008. He ultimately accepted the head coaching job at Wyoming.[http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/mizzou/story/0EB5B8E1460E90378625751100681E58?OpenDocument Christensen to Wyoming]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 30, 2008 Christensen led the Cowboys to a 2009 New Mexico Bowl win in 2009 against the Fresno State.

On October 13, 2012; Christensen confronted Air Force coach Troy Calhoun after the Cowboys' narrow 28–27 loss to the Falcons. Believing Calhoun had told Air Force quarterback Connor Dietz to fake an injury in order to buy more time before the game-winning touchdown, Christensen launched a profanity-laced tirade at Calhoun, calling him a "fly boy." Christensen apologized the next night and was reprimanded by the Mountain West Conference for his actions. On October 22, Wyoming athletic director Tom Burman suspended Christensen for the Cowboys' game against Boise State and fined him $50,000. Assistant head coach Pete Kaligis coached the team in that game.{{Cite web|url=http://trib.com/sports/college/wyoming/wyoming-ad-tom-burman-suspends-dave-christensen-fines-him-k/article_abdf5507-27bd-50db-95ca-674fef651696.html?comment_form=true|title = Wyoming AD Tom Burman suspends Dave Christensen, fines him $50k for Air Force comments}}

On December 21, 2020, Christensen announced his retirement from college coaching after 38 years.{{cite news |last1=Roussel |first1=Scott |title=Dave Christensen announces his retirement (with one heck of a video) |url=https://footballscoop.com/news/dave-christensen-announces-his-retirement-with-one-heck-of-a-video/ |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=footballscoop.com |agency=Football Scoop |publisher=Football Scoop |date=December 21, 2020}}

On November 18, 2022, it was announced Christensen would take over as head coach for Panthers Wrocław in the European League of Football.{{Cite web |title=Wrocław Panthers introduce new head coach Dave Christensen {{!}} European League of Football News |url=https://europeanleague.football/elf-news/wroclaw-panthers-introduce-new-head-coach-dave-christensen |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=europeanleague.football |language=en}} On July 4, 2024, Christensen was fired by Panthers midway through the season with 2-4 record.{{Cite web|url=https://europeanleague.football/news/craig-kuligowski-takes-over-as-head-coach-of-wroclaw-panthers-2081?comment_form=true|title = Craig Kuligowski takes over as head coach of Wroclaw Panthers}}