Christoff Ascends to Coordinator Post
1/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Rob Christoff, who helped engineer Montana State’s unprecedented run of defensive success over the past five seasons, moves into the defensive coordinator post vacated by Pete Kwiatkowski’s departure, MSU Head Coach Mike Kramer announced Monday.
A member of Kramer’s original Bobcat staff, Christoff served as linebackers coach under Kwiatkowski’s tutelage since the 2000 season. He will continue to oversee Bobcat linebackers, along with coordinating the team’s defensive staff. The 1995 Linfield graduate also played at Boise State in 1992 and ‘93 before moving to the Wildcat program for two seasons.
“Rob Christoff is one of the great scientists of the game at our level,” Kramer said. “He buys into the emotional and preparation commitments it takes to be a great defensive coach. It is important to understand that Rob’s emotional leadership has been an important key to this program’s success.”
Montana State’s defense has performed at an unprecedented level since Kramer’s staff arrived six years ago. The Bobcats led the league in yards allowed from 2001-03, the first time a Big Sky school had ever done so for three straight seasons, and gave up the fewest yards in the league again in 2005. Montana State also led the league in passing yards allowed each of those seasons, and has produced six different players who earned All-America honors nine times in that span. Christoff coached linebacker Roger Cooper, a 2004 All-America and Big Sky Defensive MVP, along with nine first- or second-team All-Big Sky linebackers.
“I appreciate the opportunity Coach Kramer is giving me to take over as coordinator,” Christoff said. “From a philosophical standpoint, I won’t change much. The reason we’ve had the success we’ve had here is that hte player believe in our system, and they care about each other, and they care about the people that are coaching them. We’ll get the best 11 men on the field, so things may change structurally from year-to-year a little bit. Philosophically, though, we’ll operate the same way we’ve operated.”
After serving as an assistant at Linfield for the 1996 season, Christoff moved to Colorado for the 1997 and ‘98 seasons, then joined the staff at Saint Mary’s in 1999. He has coached MSU’s linebackers since the 2000 campaign. Christoff’s father A.J., a long-time college assistant, just completed his first season on the San Francisco 49ers staff.
A member of Kramer’s original Bobcat staff, Christoff served as linebackers coach under Kwiatkowski’s tutelage since the 2000 season. He will continue to oversee Bobcat linebackers, along with coordinating the team’s defensive staff. The 1995 Linfield graduate also played at Boise State in 1992 and ‘93 before moving to the Wildcat program for two seasons.
“Rob Christoff is one of the great scientists of the game at our level,” Kramer said. “He buys into the emotional and preparation commitments it takes to be a great defensive coach. It is important to understand that Rob’s emotional leadership has been an important key to this program’s success.”
Montana State’s defense has performed at an unprecedented level since Kramer’s staff arrived six years ago. The Bobcats led the league in yards allowed from 2001-03, the first time a Big Sky school had ever done so for three straight seasons, and gave up the fewest yards in the league again in 2005. Montana State also led the league in passing yards allowed each of those seasons, and has produced six different players who earned All-America honors nine times in that span. Christoff coached linebacker Roger Cooper, a 2004 All-America and Big Sky Defensive MVP, along with nine first- or second-team All-Big Sky linebackers.
“I appreciate the opportunity Coach Kramer is giving me to take over as coordinator,” Christoff said. “From a philosophical standpoint, I won’t change much. The reason we’ve had the success we’ve had here is that hte player believe in our system, and they care about each other, and they care about the people that are coaching them. We’ll get the best 11 men on the field, so things may change structurally from year-to-year a little bit. Philosophically, though, we’ll operate the same way we’ve operated.”
After serving as an assistant at Linfield for the 1996 season, Christoff moved to Colorado for the 1997 and ‘98 seasons, then joined the staff at Saint Mary’s in 1999. He has coached MSU’s linebackers since the 2000 campaign. Christoff’s father A.J., a long-time college assistant, just completed his first season on the San Francisco 49ers staff.
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