Former University of Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen - a veteran of more than 35 years within college football - enters his third season as the Sun Devil offensive line coach.
Christensen spent the 2017 season with the Sun Devil program in a non-coaching role and, prior to the 2018 season, last coached the offensive line at Texas A&M during the 2015 season.
In 2019 Christensen’s leadership was key in helping the Sun Devil offensive line overcome numerous injuries to help the offense finish 16th in the nation in red zone offense, 22nd in yards per completion and 32nd in team passing efficiency. The unit played a big role in helping true freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels lead the team to eight wins while earning ESPN Freshman All-America honors and finishing as a semifinalist for the Shawn Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The offensive line – which included a pair of true freshman starters for much of the season in LaDarrius Henderson and Dohnovan West (2020 All-Pac-12 honorable mention) – also helped paved the way for running back Eno Benjamin to go over the 1000-yard mark in rushing for the second-straight season while also running for 10 touchdowns. The line was anchored by the play of senior and All-Pac-12 second-team performer Cohl Cabral who was signed by the Los Angeles Rams in April 2020.
In its first season under Christensen’s direction, the Sun Devil offensive line helped ASU become the only Power-5 program to have a 3,000-yard passer (Manny Wilkins), a 1,000-yard receiver (N’Keal Harry), and a 1,500-yard rusher (Benjamin). Benjamin finished his first season as a starter with a Pac-12 best and ASU single-season record 1,642 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Benjamin broke the school’s single-game rushing record (312 yards) in the Sun Devils’ win over Oregon State. The line allowed only 16 sacks for the season and was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award which goes annual to the outstanding offensive line unit in college football. In addition, three players from Christensen’s unit –Cabral (second team), Quinn Bailey (honorable mention) and Casey Tucker (honorable mention) – earned All-Pac-12 recognition. Bailey (Denver Broncos) and Tucker (Philadelphia Eagles) both signed rookie free agent contracts.
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 the 2017 season with the Sun Devil program in a non-coaching role and, prior to the 2018 season, last coached the offensive line at Texas A&M during the 2015 season.
In 2019 Christensen’s leadership was key in helping the Sun Devil offensive line overcome numerous injuries to help the offense finish 16th in the nation in red zone offense, 22nd in yards per completion and 32nd in team passing efficiency. The unit played a big role in helping true freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels lead the team to eight wins while earning ESPN Freshman All-America honors and finishing as a semifinalist for the Shawn Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The offensive line – which included a pair of true freshman starters for much of the season in LaDarrius Henderson and Dohnovan West (2020 All-Pac-12 honorable mention) – also helped paved the way for running back Eno Benjamin to go over the 1000-yard mark in rushing for the second-straight season while also running for 10 touchdowns. The line was anchored by the play of senior and All-Pac-12 second-team performer Cohl Cabral who was signed by the Los Angeles Rams in April 2020.
In its first season under Christensen’s direction, the Sun Devil offensive line helped ASU become the only Power-5 program to have a 3,000-yard passer (Manny Wilkins), a 1,000-yard receiver (N’Keal Harry), and a 1,500-yard rusher (Benjamin). Benjamin finished his first season as a starter with a Pac-12 best and ASU single-season record 1,642 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Benjamin broke the school’s single-game rushing record (312 yards) in the Sun Devils’ win over Oregon State. The line allowed only 16 sacks for the season and was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award which goes annual to the outstanding offensive line unit in college football. In addition, three players from Christensen’s unit –Cabral (second team), Quinn Bailey (honorable mention) and Casey Tucker (honorable mention) – earned All-Pac-12 recognition. Bailey (Denver Broncos) and Tucker (Philadelphia Eagles) both signed rookie free agent contracts.
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.