Wyoming Football hired its dynamic and innovative new leader on Dec. 1, 2008, as University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced that Christensen, then the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator at Missouri, had been selected as the new head coach of the Cowboys.

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

After serving as an assistant coach at the college level for 24 years, Christensen expressed the emotions he felt upon earning his first headcoaching position.

"I can't tell you how excited I am to be given the opportunity to lead the Wyoming Cowboy Football program," Christensen said. "The opportunity to become a head coach is something I've been preparing for my entire career.

While the offensive coordinator at Missouri, Christensen was named the 2007 National Offensive Coordinator of the Year by Rivals.com and was also runner-up for the 2007 Frank Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coach in the nation each season.

He helped lead the Missouri Tigers to the Big 12 Championship game in both the 2007 and 2008 seasons as champions of the Big 12 North.

In 2008, Mizzou ranked No. 4 in the NCAA in passing offense (330.4 yards per game), No. 6 in scoring offense (42.2 points per game) and No. 8 in total offense (484.1 yards per game). The Tigers concluded the 2008 season ranked No. 16 in the final USA Today Coaches' Poll, No. 19 in the final Associated Press Media Poll and were No. 21 in the final BCS Rankings entering the college bowl season. Missouri defeated Northwestern, 30-23 in overtime, in the 2008 Valero Alamo Bowl.

Christensen served as an assistant coach under Gary Pinkel from 1992 to 2008 -- first at the University of Toledo from 1992-2000 and then at Missouri from 2001-08. Christensen was Pinkel's offensive coordinator from 1997-2008, and coached the offensive line for 17 seasons at Toledo and Missouri. Beginning in 2005, Christensen devised and implemented one of college football's most exciting, no-huddle, spread offenses.

In his final seven seasons at the University of Toledo, the Rockets' offense set or reset some 75 school records. During that period, the Rockets posted an undefeated and Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship season in 1995 and won three MAC West titles (1997, 1998 and 2000). They concluded the `95 campaign with a 40-37 overtime win over Nevada to capture the Las Vegas Bowl Championship. In 1999, Toledo was 10th in the country in rushing (239.2) and led the nation in yards per attempt (5.35).

Christensen coached center Andy McCollum while at Toledo. McCollum was a First Team All-MAC selection in 1992, and would later become the starting center for the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. Another Toledo lineman, Colin Westrich, was named Third Team All-American by the Sporting News in 1999.

Christensen came to Toledo from Idaho State University where he coached the offensive line, tight ends and running backs for two seasons (1990- 91). Prior to his stint at Idaho State, he served two seasons as a graduate assistant offensive line coach under Don James at the University of Washington in 1988 and `89. Christensen also played football for the Huskies for three seasons from 1980-82.

Christensen earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Western Washington in 1985 and a master of science degree in college instruction and sports science from Eastern Washington in 1988.

He is 50 years old, born Jan. 17, 1961.

Christensen and his wife Susie have three children, Katie, D.J. and Emily.