Jim Christopherson
Encyclopedia
Jim Christopherson was an American football
player and coach. He played professional football for the Minnesota Vikings
in 1962 and was the head coach at Concordia College
in Moorhead, Minnesota
from 1969 to 2000. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in July 2007.
He has a wife (Sandra (Sandy) Christopherson) and two children: Reid Christopherson & Heather Teigen. Reid, his wife April, and their four children reside in Colorado Springs, CO. Heather has a husband, Troy, and three children living with her at home in Lake Park, Minnesota.
Christopherson coached the Cobbers for 32 seasons from 1969-2000. During that time he amassed a 218-101-7 record. He helped guide the Cobbers to NAIA national championships in 1978 and 1981 and won 11 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) titles during his tenure.
When Christopherson retired in 2000 he was third in wins among active NCAA Division III coaches. He was also fifth in winning percentage among active Division III coaches with more than 15 years of experience and 16th in winning percentage among all active Division III coaches. He was also among an elite group of coaches who have coached for over 30 years at the same school.
Christopherson, who played for the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons, is the first player or coach from Concordia to receive the college game's highest honor. He became only the second player or coach from the MIAC to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
During his tenure at Concordia, Christopherson guided 16 players to All-American honors. He also produced over 120 athletes that were named to the MIAC All-Conference Team, including Barry Bennett
, Sr. and Barry Bennett, Jr.
As a player for the Cobbers, Christopherson was the team captain in 1959 and was named the MIAC Most Valuable Player during that season.
In addition to coaching football, Jim also taught sailing at Concordia.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He played professional football for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in 1962 and was the head coach at Concordia College
Concordia College, Moorhead
Concordia College is a private liberal arts school located in Moorhead, Minnesota, United States. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and offers bachelors' degrees in the arts and music, as well as a master's degree in education. The college was founded by Norwegian...
in Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, and the largest city in northwest Minnesota. The population was 38,065 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Clay County....
from 1969 to 2000. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in July 2007.
He has a wife (Sandra (Sandy) Christopherson) and two children: Reid Christopherson & Heather Teigen. Reid, his wife April, and their four children reside in Colorado Springs, CO. Heather has a husband, Troy, and three children living with her at home in Lake Park, Minnesota.
Christopherson coached the Cobbers for 32 seasons from 1969-2000. During that time he amassed a 218-101-7 record. He helped guide the Cobbers to NAIA national championships in 1978 and 1981 and won 11 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) titles during his tenure.
When Christopherson retired in 2000 he was third in wins among active NCAA Division III coaches. He was also fifth in winning percentage among active Division III coaches with more than 15 years of experience and 16th in winning percentage among all active Division III coaches. He was also among an elite group of coaches who have coached for over 30 years at the same school.
Christopherson, who played for the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons, is the first player or coach from Concordia to receive the college game's highest honor. He became only the second player or coach from the MIAC to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
During his tenure at Concordia, Christopherson guided 16 players to All-American honors. He also produced over 120 athletes that were named to the MIAC All-Conference Team, including Barry Bennett
Barry Bennett
Barry Martin Bennett was an American football defensive lineman who played eleven seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints , New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings. He attended and played football at Concordia College, where he was coached by Jim...
, Sr. and Barry Bennett, Jr.
As a player for the Cobbers, Christopherson was the team captain in 1959 and was named the MIAC Most Valuable Player during that season.
In addition to coaching football, Jim also taught sailing at Concordia.