TEMPE, Ariz. – Former University of Wyoming head coach and current Sun Devil staff consultant Dave Christensen - a veteran of 35 years within college football - has been named Sun Devil Football's offensive line coach, as announced by head coach Herm Edwards today.
Christensen spent last season with the Sun Devil program in a non-coaching role and last coached the offensive line at Texas A&M during the 2015 season.
"Dave Christensen always seems to surround himself with exciting offenses and offensive lines that move the football and protect the quarterback," Edwards said. "He brings over 30 years of coaching pedigree to this program and I'm excited to get him back in an area where he has always found success."
"I am grateful to Herm Edwards and Ray Anderson for this opportunity to be back in a position where I can coach young men," Christensen said. "Much of my career has been spent around the offensive lines of some very good football teams. The one we have here at Arizona State is no different and I look forward to working with them."
"I'm extremely excited to be able to add Dave to our offensive staff," says offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Rob Likens. "He's someone I have admired for a long time within this profession. I once visited him at the University of Missouri and I knew then I wanted to someday work with him. He possesses a wealth of experience on offensive line play and will assist with game-planning."
In 2015 at Texas A&M, Christensen oversaw the offensive line and run game under head coach Kevin Sumlin. The Aggies were 8-4 during the regular season and advanced to the Music City Bowl.
Under Christensen, the A&M rushing offense improved 20 spots in the national rankings in yards per game. His offensive lines rush blocking grade was rated 38th nationally and 19th among the Power Five programs according to Pro Football Focus while the pass blocking was 21st among the Power Five teams.
Christensen arrived in College Station after spending a year with the Utah Utes, where he was the program's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. During the 2014 campaign, the Utah rushing attack was ranked third in the Pac-12 and 39th nationally at 190.4 yards per game while Devontae Booker finished second in the league at 116.3 yards per game.
That season, the Utah offensive line was also responsible for the 24th-best pass blocking grade in the country according to PFF.
From 2009-13, Christensen was the head coach at Wyoming where he compiled a 27-35 record in five seasons. In 2009, Christensen became the first Cowboy head coach to win a bowl game in his debut season when he led Wyoming to a 35-28 win over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. Two years later, Christensen was named the 2011 Mountain West Coach of the Year after the Cowboys compiled an 8-5 overall record, including a 5-2 record against MWC opponents.
He became a head coach after serving 17 years as an assistant for head coach Gary Pinkel at Toledo (1992-2000) and Missouri (2001-08). Christensen coached the offensive line at both schools and was the offensive coordinator from 1997-2008, including his entire stay at Missouri.
While at Missouri, Christensen devised a no-huddle attack that helped the Tigers advance to the Big 12 Championship Game in 2007 and 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.
In 2008, the Tigers finished fourth in the nation in passing offense (330.4 yards per game), No. 6 in scoring offense (42.2) and No. 8 in total offense (484.1).
The Tigers were nationally ranked offensively throughout Christensen's tenure as the offensive coordinator, which followed a successful stint at Toledo. During his nine years as a Toledo assistant (the last four as the offensive coordinator), the Rockets set numerous school records on offense while winning one Mid-American Conference championship and two MAC West titles (tying for another).
Christensen also served assistant coaching stints at Western Washington (1983), Eastern Washington (1986-87), Washington (1988-89, graduate assistant) and Idaho State (1990-91).
As an undergraduate, Christensen played offensive line at Washington from 1980-82. He earned a bachelor's degree from Western Washington in 1985 and a master's degree from Eastern Washington in 1988.
Christensen spent last season with the Sun Devil program in a non-coaching role and last coached the offensive line at Texas A&M during the 2015 season.
"Dave Christensen always seems to surround himself with exciting offenses and offensive lines that move the football and protect the quarterback," Edwards said. "He brings over 30 years of coaching pedigree to this program and I'm excited to get him back in an area where he has always found success."
"I am grateful to Herm Edwards and Ray Anderson for this opportunity to be back in a position where I can coach young men," Christensen said. "Much of my career has been spent around the offensive lines of some very good football teams. The one we have here at Arizona State is no different and I look forward to working with them."
"I'm extremely excited to be able to add Dave to our offensive staff," says offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Rob Likens. "He's someone I have admired for a long time within this profession. I once visited him at the University of Missouri and I knew then I wanted to someday work with him. He possesses a wealth of experience on offensive line play and will assist with game-planning."
In 2015 at Texas A&M, Christensen oversaw the offensive line and run game under head coach Kevin Sumlin. The Aggies were 8-4 during the regular season and advanced to the Music City Bowl.
Under Christensen, the A&M rushing offense improved 20 spots in the national rankings in yards per game. His offensive lines rush blocking grade was rated 38th nationally and 19th among the Power Five programs according to Pro Football Focus while the pass blocking was 21st among the Power Five teams.
Christensen arrived in College Station after spending a year with the Utah Utes, where he was the program's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. During the 2014 campaign, the Utah rushing attack was ranked third in the Pac-12 and 39th nationally at 190.4 yards per game while Devontae Booker finished second in the league at 116.3 yards per game.
That season, the Utah offensive line was also responsible for the 24th-best pass blocking grade in the country according to PFF.
From 2009-13, Christensen was the head coach at Wyoming where he compiled a 27-35 record in five seasons. In 2009, Christensen became the first Cowboy head coach to win a bowl game in his debut season when he led Wyoming to a 35-28 win over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. Two years later, Christensen was named the 2011 Mountain West Coach of the Year after the Cowboys compiled an 8-5 overall record, including a 5-2 record against MWC opponents.
He became a head coach after serving 17 years as an assistant for head coach Gary Pinkel at Toledo (1992-2000) and Missouri (2001-08). Christensen coached the offensive line at both schools and was the offensive coordinator from 1997-2008, including his entire stay at Missouri.
While at Missouri, Christensen devised a no-huddle attack that helped the Tigers advance to the Big 12 Championship Game in 2007 and 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.
In 2008, the Tigers finished fourth in the nation in passing offense (330.4 yards per game), No. 6 in scoring offense (42.2) and No. 8 in total offense (484.1).
The Tigers were nationally ranked offensively throughout Christensen's tenure as the offensive coordinator, which followed a successful stint at Toledo. During his nine years as a Toledo assistant (the last four as the offensive coordinator), the Rockets set numerous school records on offense while winning one Mid-American Conference championship and two MAC West titles (tying for another).
Christensen also served assistant coaching stints at Western Washington (1983), Eastern Washington (1986-87), Washington (1988-89, graduate assistant) and Idaho State (1990-91).
As an undergraduate, Christensen played offensive line at Washington from 1980-82. He earned a bachelor's degree from Western Washington in 1985 and a master's degree from Eastern Washington in 1988.