Former Wyoming coach Dave Christensen hired by Utah as offensive coordinator

Less than three weeks after being fired as head coach of the University of Wyoming, Dave Christensen has been hired by Utah to be its next offensive coordinator. Christensen, who will also coach the tight ends at Utah, compiled a 27-35 record in five seasons at Wyoming. Before that, he had an eight-year run as the offensive coordinator at Missouri from 2001-2008.

“As one of the pioneers of the spread offense, Dave Christensen is an innovative coach and was the architect of one of the top offenses in the country during his time at Missouri,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a release. “We feel fortunate he was available and interested in joining our program, and he will be a great fit with our staff.”

Christensen was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2011 at Wyoming and is credited as being one of the originators of the no-huddle, spread offense.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with Kyle again,” Christensen said. “We were assistants together many years ago at Idaho State and I have great respect for him and what he has accomplished since then. I am also excited to be back coaching at the BCS level and at the University of Utah in particular, where I think there is a great opportunity for success.”

Dennis Erickson and Brian Johnson, who served as the Ute’s co-offensive coordinators last season, will be demoted to running backs coach and quarterbacks coach respectively.

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