LARAMIE – University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced Sunday that head football coach Dave Christensen will not be retained as head football coach at Wyoming. Christensen served in his current position for the past five seasons (2009-13), ending his time as Wyoming head coach with a 27-35 (.435) overall record and a 16-23 (.410) Mountain West Conference record. The Cowboys concluded the 2013 season 5-7 (.417) overall and 3-5 (.375) in the conference, placing fourth in the six-team Mountain Division.

“We have come to a point where our football program has not achieved at the level of success that we expect, and we know from past experience that we can be successful,” said Burman. “It is with that in mind that we move forward in search of a new leader for Cowboy Football.”

“We want to thank Coach (Dave) Christensen and his family for their five years of service to the University of Wyoming.”

Over the past two seasons, the Cowboys posted a record of 4-8 in 2012 and 5-7 in 2013. Christensen’s teams finished 3-5 in conference play in each of the past two seasons and last qualified for bowl eligibility in 2011.
Christensen’s achievements during his five-year tenure included: earning two bowl appearances in the 2009 and 2011 New Mexico Bowls; winning the 2009 New Mexico Bowl; capturing four consecutive wins over rival Colorado State from 2009-12; recording road wins over San Diego State in 2009 and 2011; and registering road wins over Air Force in 2011 and 2013. Christensen was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2011.

Christensen was announced as the 31st head football coach in Wyoming history on Dec. 1, 2008. He is currently 52 years old (born Jan. 16, 1961).

His current contract has three years remaining on it, and was scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2016. Under the terms of his contract, the University of Wyoming will pay him his base salary of $190,008 for the remaining three years of his contract for a total of $570,024. The buyout will be paid with non-state dollars.

Burman said that a national search for Christensen’s successor would begin immediately.

“Wyoming Football has been successful at many periods in our history,” said Burman. “When you combine that great tradition with the investment we’ve made in developing outstanding football facilities that are among the best not only in our conference but in the West, we believe that we can achieve great success again.”

Burman will be available on a teleconference on Monday, Dec. 2 at 2:00 p.m., Mountain Time, to answer questions regarding his goals in seeking a new head football coach. He will not answer questions relative to specific candidates who may be considered or a specific time line.