Orson Christensen

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Orson Christensen
Biographical details
Bornc. 1937 or 1938 (age 85–86)
Oak Harbor, Washington, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1957–1960Pacific Lutheran
Position(s)Offensive lineman, defensive lineman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1961–1963Winlock HS (WA) (assistant)
1964–1968Avenal HS (CA)
1969–1970Thomas Jefferson HS (WA)
1971–1974W. F. West HS (WA)
1975–1980Olympic
1981Puget Sound (OB)
1982–1986Nebraska Wesleyan
1987–1996Eastern Oregon
1997–1998Western Washington (TE/OL)
1999Dakota Wesleyan
2000Western Washington (assistant)
2001–2004Vashon HS (WA)
2005–2009Aberdeen HS (WA)
2010Rainier HS (WA)
2011–2012Wapato HS (WA)
2013–2014Coupeville HS (WA) (assistant)
2019Oak Harbor HS (WA) (assistant)
Basketball
1961–1963Winlock HS (WA) (assistant)
1964–1968Avenal HS (CA)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1982–1986Nebraska Wesleyan
1999–2000Dakota Wesleyan
Head coaching record
Overall53–98 (college football)
22–31 (junior college football)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
1 NWAACC (1980)
2 NIAC (1983, 1986)
Awards
Football
1 NWAACC Coach of the Year (1980)

Orson Christensen (born c. 1937 or 1938) is an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Avenal High School from 1964 to 1968, Thomas Jefferson High School from 1969 to 1970, W. F. West High School from 1971 to 1974, Olympic Community College—now known as Olympic College—from 1975 to 1980, Nebraska Wesleyan University from 1982 to 1986, Eastern Oregon State College—now known as Eastern Oregon University—from 1987 to 1996, Dakota Wesleyan University in 1999, Vashon High School from 2001 to 2004, Aberdeen High School from 2005 to 2009, Rainier High School in 2010, and Wapato High School from 2011 to 2012.

Playing career

Christensen was a four-sport athlete for Oak Harbor High School and graduated in 1957. He then enrolled at Pacific Lutheran where he played college football for the Lutes as an offensive and defensive lineman.[1] He earned letters all four years he played.

Coaching career

In 1961, Christensen accepted his first coaching positions as an assistant football and basketball coach for Winlock High School.[2] After four years of coaching and teaching social studies he moved to California and became the head football and head basketball coach for Avenal High School.[3][4] In 1969, he began his two-year stint with Thomas Jefferson High School as he moved back to Washington as head coach. In 1971, he was hired away from Thomas Jefferson by W. F. West High School.[5][6]

After fourteen seasons, ten of which as a head coach, in the high school ranks Christensen was hired as the head football coach for Olympic, a community college in Bremerton, Washington.[7][8] He was head coach for six years and led the team to a 22–31 record. For half of his tenure, the school threatened the program with disbandment but ultimately was retained through the end of Christensen's time with the team.[9] He had his best season in his last season as he led the team to an 8–2 record and a Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) championship.[10]

In 1981, Christensen was named the offensive backfield coach for Puget Sound and served as an unofficial offensive coordinator.[11] In his lone season with the Loggers, the team went 10–2 and made a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs.[11]

In 1982, Christensen returned to the head coaching ranks as he was hired to be the successor to longtime coach Harold G. Chaffee at Nebraska Wesleyan.[12] After a 4–5 freshman season he led the Plainsmen to a 7–3 record and a share of the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC) title. After two winning seasons at 6–4 and 6–5, he led the team to an outright NIAC championship and a 7–3 record in his last season in 1986.[13] The team also finished undefeated in conference play and ranked twelfth in the NAIA Division II.[13] He ended his tenure with a 30–20 overall record and two conference championships.[13]

In 1987, Eastern Oregon hired Christensen away from Nebraska Wesleyan as the team's next head coach.[13][14][15] With the Mountaineers, he took over a struggling program that continued to struggle even after his hiring. In ten seasons as head coach, he led the team to a 23–68 record, including five seasons with one or fewer wins and two back-to-back winless seasons in his first three seasons as head coach. His best season came in his last in 1997 when the Mountaineers finished 6–4 for their first winning season since 1982 under Don Turner.[16] He resigned following the 1997 season.[17][18]

After ten seasons as head coach for Eastern Oregon, Christensen returned to Washington as the tight ends and offensive line coach for Western Washington under head coach Rob Smith.[16] He helped lead the team to a back-to-back 5–5 seasons before being hired as the head football coach for Dakota Wesleyan.[19] In his lone season with the Tigers, they went 0–10, which was also their last season in the South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Conference (SDIIC).[20][21] He resigned after one season.[20] In 2000, he returned to Western Washington as an assistant coach.

After 26 seasons coaching college football, Christensen returned to coaching high school football as he coached Vashon Island High School from 2001 to 2004.[22] From 2005 to 2009, he coached Aberdeen High School. In 2010, he was named the first head coach for Rainier High School.[23][24] He departed for Wapato High School after one season.[25] In 2013 and 2014 he coached his as an assistant coach for Coupeville High School.[26] In 2019, he returned to coaching as an assistant for his alma mater, Oak Harbor.[27]

During Christensen's tenure as football coach for Nebraska Wesleyan and Dakota Wesleyan, he served as athletic director for both schools.[21]

Head coaching record

College football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs NAIA DII#
Nebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen (Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1982–1986)
1982 Nebraska Wesleyan 4–5 2–3 5th
1983 Nebraska Wesleyan 7–3 4–1 T–1st
1984 Nebraska Wesleyan 6–4 3–2 3rd
1985 Nebraska Wesleyan 6–5 2–3 T–3rd
1986 Nebraska Wesleyan 7–3 5–0 1st 14
Nebraska Wesleyan: 30–20 16–9
Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (Columbia Football League) (1987)
1987 Eastern Oregon 1–8 0–6 7th (Southern)
Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (Columbia Football Association) (1988–1996)
1988 Eastern Oregon 0–9 0–6 7th (MHL)
1989 Eastern Oregon 0–9 0–6 7th (MHL)
1990 Eastern Oregon 3–6 3–3 T–3rd (MHL)
1991 Eastern Oregon 4–5 2–4 T–5th (MHL)
1992 Eastern Oregon 3–6 3–3 T–3rd (MHL)
1993 Eastern Oregon 4–5 2–3 T–4th (MHL)
1994 Eastern Oregon 1–8 0–5 6th (MHL)
1995 Eastern Oregon 1–8 1–4 T–5th (MRL)
1996 Eastern Oregon 6–4 2–3 T–4th
Eastern Oregon: 23–68 13–43
Dakota Wesleyan Tigers (South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Conference) (1999)
1999 Dakota Wesleyan 0–10 0–5 6th
Dakota Wesleyan: 0–10 0–5
Total: 53–98
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Junior college football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Olympic Rangers (Northwest Community College Conference / Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges) (1975–1980)
1975 Olympic 5–4 5–3 3rd (Western)
1976 Olympic 2–7 2–7 5th (Western)
1977 Olympic 1–7 1–7 T–3rd (Western)
1978 Olympic 1–7 1–6 T–3rd (Northern)
1979 Olympic 5–4 3–3 4th
1980 Olympic 8–2 5–1 1st
Olympic: 22–31 17–27
Total: 22–31
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ "Christensen Promoted". The Hanford Sentinel. August 18, 1965. p. 22. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  2. ^ "New Coaches Due For Lewis County". The Daily Chronicle. September 5, 1961. p. 9. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Avenal High School". The Lemoore Advance. August 13, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "Avenal Sets Grid Practice". The Hanford Sentinel. August 21, 1965. p. 6. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  5. ^ "Assistant Superintendent, Principal, 18 Teachers New At Chehalis". The Daily Chronicle. August 17, 1971. p. 14. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Wilfong, Chuck (September 21, 1972). "Orson spells spirit..." The Daily Chronicle. p. 12. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Dickason, Glen (August 6, 1975). "Bearcat football coach headed for Bremerton". The Daily Chronicle. p. 12. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Mosher, Terry (September 2, 1975). "OC Plots New Course". Kitsap Sun. p. 32. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Beery, Harland (November 19, 1977). "Rangers' Christensen Looking Ahead, Not Back". Kitsap Sun. p. 18. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Stark, Chuck (November 19, 1980). "Christensen Honored As Coach Of The Year". Kitsap Sun. p. 23. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Stark, Chuck (November 25, 1981). "Ex-Oh-Cee Coach, Christensen, Helps Loggers Reach Playoffs". Kitsap Sun. p. 16. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Beery, Harland (May 18, 1982). "Orson Christensen's Counting The Days". Kitsap Sun. p. 15. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d Berry, Harland (September 4, 1987). "Eastern Oregon Mounties lure Christensen back to the Northwest". Kitsap Sun. p. 85. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  14. ^ McKeever, Curt (January 6, 1987). "NWU grid coach takes E. Oregon post". The Lincoln Star. p. 9. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  15. ^ "Eastern Ore. hires Orson Christensen". Kitsap Sun. January 9, 1987. p. 18. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "WWU hires former Eastern Ore. coach". The Bellingham Herald. June 6, 1997. p. 13. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "EOSC football coach resigns". Albany Democrat-Herald. December 11, 1996. p. 17. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Eastern Oregon coach quits". Longview Daily News. December 10, 996. p. 26. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  19. ^ "Christiansen [sic] new DWU football coach". Argus-Leader. February 9, 1999. p. 16. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "DWU's Christensen resigns". Argus-Leader. March 21, 2000. p. 16. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Area Sports". The Bismarck Tribune. March 21, 2000. p. 22. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  22. ^ Lynch, Tom (September 5, 2001). "Donnelly leads new-look Vashon". The News Tribune. p. 22. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  23. ^ Mosher, Terry (August 31, 2010). "Former OC Coach Christensen, 71, Still Going Strong". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  24. ^ Mosher, Terry (September 1, 2010). "Coached OC 1975-80 (From B1)". Kitsap Sun. p. 14. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  25. ^ "New football coaches around the state". HeraldNet. June 7, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Waller, Jim (August 2, 2013). "50 years of coaching: Christensen joins Coupeville football staff". Whidbey News-Times. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  27. ^ Svein, David (August 22, 2019). "Wolves or Wildcats, coaching duo stays in the game". Coupeville Sports. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
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