“Why I Coach” with former Audubon coach Dustin Christensen

(Audubon) Former Audubon co-head football coach Dustin Christensen spent this past season as an assistant at IKM-Manning and had been on staff at North Polk prior to that.

Some coaches live for the competition and aren’t a big fan of all the practicing ahead of time. Christensen is the opposite. “I love practices. Just practicing with the kids and getting to work with them every day and seeing them improve and not only just improving with their ability as athletes, but also seeing them become more well-rounded individuals was one of the biggest achievements I think I enjoyed.”

At Audubon, Christensen had the opportunity to work alongside high school teammate and friend Sean Birks as a co-head coach. “It was really good because he knows a lot about the X’s and O’s. He’s very, very smart. He does a great job game planning. As you’ve noticed over the last couple of years he’s definitely got those kids to where they need to be and they’ve had a lot of great success. He’s just very determined and very focused on his craft and he continues to improve himself every day.”

Christensen lists communication as one of his biggest strengths as a coach when it comes to working together with other coaches. He admits finding a career path better suited for him would be difficult. “Honestly when I went to college I wanted to be a chiropractor, but I just didn’t have the drive for it once I got to Iowa State. Coaching was always something I’ve enjoyed doing and it keeps me around athletics. Working with the younger kids is great.”

Coach Christensen has scaled back on his responsibilities with two young daughters at home, but he’d love to be a head coach again some day. “I’m hoping so. I’m hoping that’s in the future. Once our girls grow up a little bit then that’ll give me more time to be able to workout with kids more on an everyday basis.”

He was known for building strong defenses in his time with the Wheelers and says the keys were getting kids to buy in and being flexible.

Previous Coaches

(Click to listen)

Colin Shawgo, ACGC

Cody Matthewson, ACGC

Shawn Danker, ACGC

Cory Bartz, Adair-Casey

John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum

Wade Anderson, Adair-Casey

Chris Bireline, Adair Casey

Kelsey Muxfeldt, AHSTW

Evan McCarthy, AHSTW

GG Harris, AHSTW

Frank Nelsen, AHST

Jason Holst, AHSTW

Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon

Larry Allen, Avoca Native

Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)

Lee Saathoff, Atlantic

Tim Duff, Atlantic/CAM

Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center

Dick Strittmatter, Atlantic native

Bruce Henderson, Atlantic

Bob Younger, Atlantic

Alan Jenkins, Atlantic

Dan Vargason, Atlantic

Terry Hinzmann, Atlantic

Don Jenkins, Atlantic

Joel Simms, Atlantic

Lynn Barnes, Atlantic

Kathy Hobson, Atlantic

Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)

Dean Kiger, Audubon

Jim Willet, Audubon and Anita

Dustin Christensen, Audubon

Darran Miller, Audubon

Eric Borkowski, Audubon

In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Monte Riebhoff)

In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Steve Ahrendsen)

In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Scott Weber)

In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Curt Mace)

Molly Lange, Audubon

Sean Birks, Audubon

Monte Riebhoff, Audubon

Steve Dvorak, Audubon

Pete Dammel, Audubon

Tony Vis, Audubon and Harlan

Blane Kerkhoff, Audubon

Frank Howell, Audubon

Bud Legg, Anita Native

Brian Wedemeyer, Anita Native

Gene Johnson, Anita native

Mark Erickson, C&M graduate

Lynn Johnson, Anita and CAM

Todd Russell, CAM

Sandy Booker, CAM

Barry Bower, CAM

Dean Downer, CAM

Lance Lage, CAM

Joe Wollum, CAM

Dan Daugherty, CAM

Larry Hunt, CAM

Aaron Pelzer, C&M/Norwalk

Jason Mehrhoff, Anita Native (Carlisle)

Eric Hjelle, Elk Horn-Kimballton grad (Underwood)

Brett Watson, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum (Waukee Northwest)

Warren Watson, Elk Horn-Kimballton

Chris Stimson, Elk Horn-Kimballton

Scott Yates, Elk Horn-Kimballton

Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum

Tony Petersen, Exira-EHK

Tom Petersen, Exira-EHK

Doug Newton, Exira-EHK

Terry Weisenborn, Exira-EHK

Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach

Cory Faust, Glenwood

Steve Baier, Griswold

Jane Chaillie, Griswold

Troy Nicklaus, Griswold

Marc Bierbaum, Griswold grad and Iowa Western track/cross country assistant

Tom Moore, Griswold

Raymond Butt, Griswold

Jody Rossell, Griswold

Kent Gade, Griswold

Chad Rodgers, Griswold

Chris Hamilton, Griswold

Peggy Hansen, Griswold

Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley

Steve Smith, Guthrie Center

Brent Meier, Guthrie Center

Bob Bolton, Guthrie Center

Curt Schulte, Harlan graduate (Glenwood)

Todd Bladt, Harlan

Ken Carstens, Harlan

Mitch Osborn, Harlan

Doug Renkly, Harlan

Randy Bissen, Harlan

Steve Daeges, Harlan

Joel Osborn, Harlan

John Murtaugh, Harlan

Zach Klaassen, Harlan

Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak

Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central

Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley

Dan Jameson, Nodaway Valley

James Larson, Nodaway Valley

Steve Shantz, Nodaway Valley

Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley

Paul Bullock, Riverside

Mitch Anderson, Riverside

Darrell Frain, Riverside

Jason Shelangouski, Riverside

Burke Swenson, Riverside

Jared Hoffman, Riverside

Casey Conover, Riverside

Alex Oliver, Riverside

Gary Wax, Riverside

Nick Kroon, Riverside

Chris Conover, Riverside

Frank Schnoes, Shelby-Tennant

Chad Harder, (Walnut Grad) Tri-Center

Jason Book, (Walnut grad) ADM

Josh Abel, (Walnut grad), Tri-Center

Bob Gross, Walnut

Denny Book, Walnut

Kevin Suhr, (Walnut Grad) Blue Valley High School, KS

Jeff Koenck-Walnut, Griswold, and Treynor