Jake Christiansen (coach)
{{Short description|American football and basketball player and coach (1900–1992)}}
{{distinguish|Jake Christiansen (ice hockey)|Jake Christiansen Stadium}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Jake Christiansen
| image = Jake Christiansen.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1900|2|2}}
| birth_place = Marinette, Wisconsin, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1992|1|21|1900|2|2}}
| death_place = Cass County, North Dakota, U.S.
| alma_mater =
| coach_sport1 = Football
| coach_years2 = 1929–1940
| coach_team2 = Valparaiso
| coach_years3 = 1941–1968
| coach_team3 = Concordia (MN)
| coach_sport4 = Basketball
| coach_years5 = 1929–1941
| coach_team5 = Valparaiso
| coach_years6 = 1941–1953
| coach_team6 = Concordia (MN)
| coach_sport7 = Baseball
| coach_years8 = 1930–1931
| coach_team8 = Valparaiso
| admin_years1 = 1929–1941
| admin_team1 = Valparaiso
| overall_record = 175–92–15 (football)
224–236–2 (basketball)
15–8 (baseball)
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record = Football
1–0–1 (NAIA playoffs)
| championships = Football
NAIA National (1964)
4 MIAC (1942, 1952, 1957, 1964).
| awards = NAIA Coach of the Year (1964)
| coaching_records =
}}
Jacobi Melius Alton Christiansen (February 2, 1900 – January 21, 1992) was an American football and basketball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Valparaiso University from 1929 to 1940 and at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota from 1941 to 1968, compiling a career college football record of 175–92–15. Christiansen's 1964 Concordia team tied with Sam Houston State in the NAIA National title game. Christiansen is one of the few college football coaches to have coached in a stadium named after himself.
Playing career
Christiansen was born in Marinette, Wisconsin and grew up in Northfield, Minnesota where his father F. Melius Christiansen was conductor of the St. Olaf College Choir. Christiansen had musical talent but was also a standout athlete in college. He graduated from St. Olaf in 1924 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He later earned a master's degree in education and counseling from North Dakota State University.{{cite web|url=http://www.concordiacollege.edu/news-media/detail/concordia-great-jake-christiansen/
|accessdate=January 8, 2014
|title=Concordia Great: Jake Christiansen
|date=October 14, 2013
|publisher=Concordia College}}
His younger brothers led major college choral programs in the twentieth century: Olaf C. Christiansen at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and Paul J. Christiansen at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Coaching career
=Valparaiso=
Christiansen was the head football coach for the Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana for 12 seasons, from 1929 until 1940. His football coaching record at Valparaiso was 50–43–4.{{Cite web
|last = DeLassus
|first = David
|title = Valparaiso Coaching Records
|publisher = College Football Data Warehouse
|url = http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/pioneer/valparaiso/coaching_records.php
|accessdate = January 6, 2014
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131113215634/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/pioneer/valparaiso/coaching_records.php
|archivedate = November 13, 2013
}} His 1932 team completed the season undefeated.
Christiansen was called "A remarkable one-man athletics department" at Valparasio. He served as football coach, basketball coach, and athletic director from 1929 through 1941. His basketball team of 1938 won the Indiana Intercollegiate title and went on to play in the National Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. Valparaiso inducted him into their "Athletic Hall of Fame" in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.valpoathletics.com/athletics/halloffame/1998-99/2892/jake-christiansen/|publisher=Valparaiso Crusaders|title=Athletic Hall of Fame (Jake Christiansen)|accessdate=January 8, 2014}}
=Concordia (MN)=
Christiansen moved to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota to coach basketball from 1941–42 season through 1952–53 season. He also coached football for the school from 1941 through 1968.
In fall 1964, Christiansen was named MIAC Coach of the Year, NAIA Coach of the Year and inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. That same year the construction of a new football stadium was announced. After its completion in 1966, it was dedicated as the Jake Christiansen Stadium. He was inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of
Head coaching record
=Football=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Valparaiso Crusaders
| conf = Indiana Intercollegiate Conference
| startyear = 1929
| endyear = 1940
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1929
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 1–7
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1930
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 5–4
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1931
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 8–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1932
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 7–0
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1933
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 7–1
| conference = 3–0
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1934
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 6–2
| conference = 4–1
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1935
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 4–4–1
| conference = 2–2
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1936
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 1–6–1
| conference = 1–3–1
| confstanding = T–11th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1937
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 4–4
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = T–5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1938
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 2–4–1
| conference = 2–2–1
| confstanding = 8th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1939
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 2–6
| conference = 1–3
| confstanding = T–10th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1940
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 3–4–1
| conference = 2–3
| confstanding = T–9th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Valparaiso
| overall = 50–43–4
| confrecord =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Concordia Cobbers
| conf = Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
| startyear = 1941
| endyear = 1968
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1941
| name = Concordia
| overall = 5–2
| conference = 3–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1942
| name = Concordia
| overall = 6–0–1
| conference = 3–0–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1943
| name = Concordia
| overall = 3–1
| conference = NA
| confstanding = NA
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1944
| name = Concordia
| overall = 1–2–1
| conference = NA
| confstanding = NA
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1945
| name = Concordia
| overall = 2–2–2
| conference = 0–1
| confstanding = T–6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1946
| name = Concordia
| overall = 3–3–1
| conference = 2–2
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1947
| name = Concordia
| overall = 3–4
| conference = 1–4
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1948
| name = Concordia
| overall = 3–4–1
| conference = 0–4–1
| confstanding = 8th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1949
| name = Concordia
| overall = 3–6
| conference = 2–3
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1950
| name = Concordia
| overall = 3–4
| conference = 2–4
| confstanding = 8th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1951
| name = Concordia
| overall = 4–4
| conference = 2–4
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1952
| name = Concordia
| overall = 7–2
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1953
| name = Concordia
| overall = 5–3
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1954
| name = Concordia
| overall = 6–1–1
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1955
| name = Concordia
| overall = 6–2
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1956
| name = Concordia
| overall = 6–3
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1957
| name = Concordia
| overall = 7–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1958
| name = Concordia
| overall = 7–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1959
| name = Concordia
| overall = 7–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1960
| name = Concordia
| overall = 7–2
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1961
| name = Concordia
| overall = 4–5
| conference = 3–4
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1962
| name = Concordia
| overall = 5–3–1
| conference = 3–3–1
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1963
| name = Concordia
| overall = 7–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 1964
| name = Concordia
| overall = 10–0–1
| conference = 7–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = T
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1965
| name = Concordia
| overall = 6–2
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1966
| name = Concordia
| overall = 5–3
| conference = 4–3
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1967
| name = Concordia
| overall = 7–1–1
| conference = 5–1–1
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1968
| name = Concordia
| overall = 7–3
| conference = 4–3
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Concordia
| overall = 145–70–10
| confrecord = 99–53–4
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 175–92–15
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Find a Grave|154202904}}
{{navboxes|list=
{{Valparaiso Crusaders athletic director navbox}}
{{Valparaiso Crusaders football coach navbox}}
{{Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Valparaiso Crusaders baseball coach navbox}}
{{Concordia Cobbers football coach navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christiansen, Jake}}
Category:Concordia Cobbers football coaches
Category:Concordia Cobbers men's basketball coaches
Category:Valparaiso Beacons athletic directors
Category:Valparaiso Beacons baseball coaches
Category:Valparaiso Beacons football coaches
Category:Valparaiso Beacons men's basketball coaches
Category:St. Olaf Oles football players
Category:North Dakota State University alumni
Category:People from Marinette, Wisconsin
Category:People from Northfield, Minnesota
Category:Coaches of American football from Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Minnesota
Category:Baseball coaches from Minnesota