The Panthers Wrocław of the European League of Football named former Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen their head coach Friday. Christensen retired in 2020 after serving as Arizona State’s offensive line coach for three seasons.
Through 38 years of being a college football coach, Christensen was the offensive coordinator for Missouri under Gary Pinkel for eight seasons from 2001-2008. Pinkel hired Christensen onto his staff while both were with Toledo before.
In Columbia, Christensen made the Tigers known for a passing-oriented offense dominated by a no-huddle approach. Spreading out the field, Missouri thrived with the likes of Chase Daniel, Martin Rucker and Jeremy Maclin in the system.
In 2007, Missouri scored its school record 558 points, ranking fifth in total offensive yards, eighth in scoring offense and ninth in passing yards. Daniel was awarded as a Heisman Trophy Finalist, and Christensen was a Broyles Award — honors college football’s best assistant coach — finalist and the Rivals.com Offensive Coordinator of the Year.
Following success with the Tigers, the Washington native took his first Division I head coaching job with Wyoming.
As the Cowboys head coach, Christensen went 27-35 in five seasons at the helm from 2009-2013. He reached two bowl games, winning the 2009 New Mexico Bowl over Fresno State and then losing the 2011 New Mexico Bowl to Temple.
Christensen coached at the high school level, at the community college level and at the Division I level, but his next job marks his first step into professional football. Although never crossing paths at Missouri, Christensen and former Tigers defensive end Michael Sam are in the European League of Football.
Sam — who started off as an assistant defensive line coach — is now playing for the Barcelona Dragons. The team announced June 1 that the 32-year-old signed a contract following a roster spot opening up. He started the next game four days later.