Sport(s) | Football, basketball, baseball |
---|---|
Biographical details | |
Born |
Marinette, Wisconsin |
February 2, 1900
Died | January 21, 1992 United States |
(aged 91)
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
Football | |
1929–1940 | Valparaiso |
1941–1968 | Concordia (MN) |
Basketball | |
1929–1941 | Valparaiso |
1941–1953 | Concordia (MN) |
Baseball | |
1930–1931 | Valparaiso |
Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
1929–1941 | Valparaiso |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 175–92–15 (football) 224–236–2 (basketball) 15–8 (baseball) |
Tournaments | Football 1–0–1 (NAIA playoffs) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
Football 1 NAIA National (1964) 4 MIAC (1942, 1952, 1957, 1964). |
Jacobi Melius Alton Christiansen (February 2, 1900 – January 21, 1992) was an American football and basketball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Valparaiso University from 1929 to 1940 and at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota from 1941 to 1968, compiling a career college football record of 175–92–15. Christiansen's 1964 Concordia team tied with Sam Houston State in the NAIA National title game. Christiansen is one of the few college football coaches to have coached in a stadium named after himself.
Christiansen was born in Marinette, Wisconsin and grew up in Northfield, Minnesota where his father F. Melius Christiansen was conductor of the St. Olaf College Choir. Christiansen had musical talent but was also a standout athlete in college. He graduated from St. Olaf in 1924 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He later earned a master's degree in education and counseling from North Dakota State University.
Christiansen was the head football coach for the Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana for 12 seasons, from 1929 until 1940. His football coaching record at Valparaiso was 50–43–4. His 1932 team completed the season undefeated.
Christiansen was called "A remarkable one-man athletics department" at Valparasio. He served as football coach, basketball coach, and athletic director from 1929 through 1941. His basketball team of 1938 won the Indiana Intercollegiate title and went on to play in the National Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. Valparaiso inducted him into their "Athletic Hall of Fame" in 1998.