Jan. 3, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri Assistant Head Football Coach Dave Christensen has withdrawn his name from consideration from the coaching search currently ongoing at Central Michigan University, and will remain on staff at Mizzou, as indicated today by Christensen.
Christensen was in the running for the position after leading the Mizzou offense to huge numbers in 2006. His offense, under the direction of record-setting sophomore quarterback Chase Daniel, amassed a school-record 5,533 yards of total offense this season, and its per-game average of 425.6 yards ranks 2nd in the Big 12 Conference, and currently sits 9th in the NCAA through bowl games of Dec. 30th.
"I am grateful to Central Michigan for the consideration they have given me, but I am committed to the University of Missouri and our kids," said Christensen. "We have so many great things happening at Mizzou with our program, and I want to be a part of what is an exciting future. This was a valuable experience for me to go through, and I wish Central Michigan nothing but the best, but the search process was taking long enough to where I feel it is now time to move forward. My family enjoys being part of the Mizzou and Columbia communities, and that is very important to me," he said.
Christensen, who just completed his sixth year at Mizzou as part of Head Coach Gary Pinkel's staff, has enjoyed great success while guiding the Tiger offense. At last count, over 80 individual and team offensive records have been broken at MU on Christensen's watch.
As many as eight starters are expected to return for MU's high-flying offensive attack in 2007.
Mizzou returns the vast majority of its offensive production from 2006, including the following numbers...
- Passing TDs - 100.0% (29-of-29)
- Passing Yards - 99.4% (3567-of-3590)
- Total Offense - 97.9% (5414-of-5533)
- Rushing Yards - 95.1% (1847-of-1943)
- Rushing TDs - 93.8% (15-of-16)
- Receiving TDs - 93.1% (27-of-29)
- Receptions - 89.0% (259-of-291)
- Receiving Yards - 88.0% (3160-of-3590)