Jim Christopherson

Bio

For 32 years Jim Christopherson led the Concordia (MN) College football program. Over that span he established the Cobbers as a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference power and a frequent national title contender. Christopherson was a Concordia grad who played professionally with the Minnesota Vikings and the Toronto Argonauts before starting his coaching career. He became head coach in 1969 after serving six seasons as a Concordia assistant to Jake Christiansen. In his first year at the helm, Christopherson took Concordia to an unbeaten regular season and a second place finish in the NAIA playoffs. He followed that performance with the second of 11 MIAC titles. Jim eased the disappointment of the 1969 title game loss with national championships in both 1978 and 1981. Under his tutelage, Concordia produced 17 All-America players and 121 All-MIAC athletes. He only had five losing seasons and won numerous individual coaching honors including the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1981. At the time of his retirement he was third on the all-time win list of active Division II coaches.