MOORHEAD, Minn. (5/03/07)--Former longtime Concordia football coach Jim Christopherson was elected into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame. Christopherson coached the Cobbers for 32 seasons from 1969-2000. During that time he amassed a 218-101-7 record. He helped guide the Cobbers to NAIA national championships in 1978 and 1981 and won 11 MIAC titles during his tenure.

When Christopherson retired in 2000 he was third in wins among active NCAA Division III coaches. He was also fifth in winning percentage among active Division III coaches with more than 15 years of experience and 16th in winning percentage among all active Division III coaches. He was also among an elite group of coaches who have coached for over 30 years at the same school.

Christopherson, who played for the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons, is the first player or coach from Concordia to receive the college game’s highest honor. He becomes only the second player or coach from the MIAC to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Christopherson is joined by Georgia Southern quarterback Tracy Ham, Kentucky State quarterback Joe Kendall, Bloomsburg (Pa.) linebacker Frank Sheptock, Valdosta (Ga.) State linebacker Jessie Tuggle and former Florida A&M coach William Joe in the 2007 Divisional Class. Divisional enshrinees are players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), Divisions I, II and III, and the NAIA. This year’s class will be inducted July 19-21 in South Bend, Ind.

Christopherson was elected into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. During his 32 seasons at the helm of the Cobbers, Concordia posted 26 winning seasons and finished in the top three of the conference on 23 different occasions. Christopherson's overall MIAC record was 182-His four best seasons came during the national title runs in 1978 and 1981 and also the 1969 national runner-up season and the 1986 national semifinalist campaign. In all four years, Concordia posted win totals in double digits. In three of the four years his teams went undefeated in MIAC play and in all four seasons the Cobbers won the MIAC championship.

During his tenure at Concordia, Christopherson guided 16 players to All-American honors. He also produced over 120 athletes that were named to the MIAC All-Conference Team.

As a player for the Cobbers, Christopherson was the team captain in 1959 and was named the MIAC Most Valuable Player during that season.

Christopherson By The Years