Jan. 28, 2008
Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Dave Christensen has been named the National Offensive Coordinator of the Year by Rivals.com.
The outlet cited Christensen for his work in directing the Mizzou offense to record-setting achievements in the 2007 season that saw the Tigers win a school-record 12 games and claim their first-ever Big 12 North Division championship, while finishing fourth in the final Associated Press poll and winning MU's first New Year's Day bowl game since 1966.
"This is a great honor that reflects a lot of hard work by our coaching staff and our kids," said Christensen. "I've said it time and again, but this team was the most unselfish group of guys a coach could hope for - they put the team above themselves, and I think what they achieved speaks volumes about their dedication. We've got a great staff of coaches who all were a part of this - this wasn't a one-man show at all - and they deserve just as much credit as me," he said.
The Tiger offense broke records like they were going out of style this season, including scoring 558 points, shattering the old record of 399 points in 2003. In all, Mizzou broke as many as 65 different school game, season and bowl records in 2007 in team and individual categories.
Mizzou ended the season ranked among the top-10 in the NCAA in five major statistical categories, including: total offense (5th - 490.3 ypg), scoring (8th - 39.9 ppg), passing (9th - 314.1 ypg), red zone conversions (4th - 91.0%), and third-down conversions (2nd - 53.0%).
