Jim Christopherson

James Monroe Christopherson (born February 17, 1938) is 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.

Jim Christopherson
Biographical details
Born (1938-02-17) February 17, 1938
Wadena, Minnesota, U.S.
Playing career
1956–1959Concordia–Moorhead
1962Minnesota Vikings
1964Toronto Argonauts
Position(s)Halfback, linebacker, placekicker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1968Concordia–Moorhead (assistant)
1969–2000Concordia–Moorhead
Head coaching record
Overall217–102–7
Tournaments1–1 (NAIA playoff)
5–0–1 (NAIA Division II playoffs)
2–4 (NCAA D-III playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 NAIA Division II (1978, 1981)
11 MIAC (1969–1970, 1974, 1978–1981, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995)
Awards
NAIA Division II Coach of the Year (1981)
MIAC Player of the Year (1959)
4× MIAC Coach of the Year (1980–1981, 1986, 1995)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2007 (profile)

He has a wife (Sandra (Sandy) Christopherson) and two children: Reid Christopherson and 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 to 2000. During that time he amassed a 217–102–7 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,[1] 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.[2]

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, Christopherson also taught sailing at Concordia.

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Concordia Cobbers (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1969–2000)
1969 Concordia–Moorhead 10–17–01stL NAIA Championship
1970 Concordia–Moorhead 7–2–16–11st
1971 Concordia–Moorhead 7–34–3T–4th
1972 Concordia–Moorhead 6–34–3T–3rd
1973 Concordia–Moorhead 5–53–4T–5th
1974 Concordia–Moorhead 7–25–2T–1st
1975 Concordia–Moorhead 5–43–4T–5th
1976 Concordia–Moorhead 6–35–2T–2nd
1977 Concordia–Moorhead 7–25–2T–2nd
1978 Concordia–Moorhead 11–17–1T–1stW NAIA Division II Championship
1979 Concordia–Moorhead 6–36–2T–1st
1980 Concordia–Moorhead 8–27–11st
1981 Concordia–Moorhead 11–0–28–01stT NAIA Division II Championship
1982 Concordia–Moorhead 6–45–3T–4th
1983 Concordia–Moorhead 5–64–56th
1984 Concordia–Moorhead 4–5–13–5–1T–7th
1985 Concordia–Moorhead 7–37–2T–2nd
1986 Concordia–Moorhead 11–29–01stL NCAA Division III Semifinal
1987 Concordia–Moorhead 7–37–2T–2nd
1988 Concordia–Moorhead 9–28–1T–1stL NCAA Division III First Round
1989 Concordia–Moorhead 7–2–16–2–12nd
1990 Concordia–Moorhead 7–37–2T–1st
1991 Concordia–Moorhead 3–63–5T–7th
1992 Concordia–Moorhead 7–2–16–2–13rd
1993 Concordia–Moorhead 6–46–3T–3rd
1994 Concordia–Moorhead 6–46–3T–3rd
1995 Concordia–Moorhead 8–2–17–1–1T–1stL NCAA Division III First Round
1996 Concordia–Moorhead 6–46–34th
1997 Concordia–Moorhead 8–37–2T–2ndL NCAA Division III First Round
1998 Concordia–Moorhead 4–64–56th
1999 Concordia–Moorhead 6–46–35th
2000 Concordia–Moorhead 4–64–56th
Concordia–Moorhead: 217–102–7181–79–4
Total:217–102–7
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

References
  1. "Jim Christopherson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  2. Jim Christopherson at the College Football Hall of Fame
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