FB: Christensen Joins App State as Associate Head Coach

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January 13, 2025
MBB: App State Closes Homestand with Second Straight 20-Point Win
January 12, 2025
AMOREM awarded CHAP Accreditation
January 13, 2025
FB: Christensen Joins App State as Associate Head Coach

 

Jan. 11, 2025

 

Contact: Joey Jones (jo*****@ap******.edu)

 

Secondary contact: Bret Strelow (st******@ap******.edu)

 

ONLINE: https://appstatesports.com/news/2025/1/11/football-christensen-joins-app-state-as-associate-head-coach.aspx

 

BOONE, N.C. — Clyde Christensen, who has coached the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Marvin Harrison and Jameis Winston during his 45-year career, has been hired by App State head coach Dowell Loggains as associate head coach.

 

A two-time Super Bowl winner, Christensen spent 27 years in the NFL before serving on staff the last two years at North Carolina.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Clyde and his wife, Debbie, to the App Family,” Loggains said. “Clyde has been one of football’s top offensive leaders for many years and has coached several Hall of Famers to the pinnacle of our sport. More than that, he is an outstanding role model and has been a tremendous mentor to me throughout my career. His leadership will be invaluable to our program.”

 

Christensen was a volunteer analyst at UNC in 2023 before becoming senior advisor to the head coach in 2024. He arrived in Chapel Hill following a four-year stint as the quarterbacks coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whom he helped lead to the Super Bowl LV title following the 2020 season.

 

“I’m excited to join Coach Loggains and contribute to the success of a tradition-rich App State program,” Christensen said. “I’m ready to get started working with the staff and players and compete for more championships.”

 

As his position coach for the final three years of Brady’s legendary career, Christensen helped Brady reach some of the loftiest achievements in NFL history.

 
During the 2022 season, Christensen helped Brady lead the league in pass attempts (733) and completions (490) while finishing third in passing yards (4,694), fourth in passing yards per game (276.1) and eighth in passing TDs (25).
 
In 2021, Brady led the NFL in passing yards (5,316), passing touchdowns (43), pass completions (485) and pass attempts (719), joining Drew Brees (2008) and Manning (2013) as the only players to have led the league in all four categories in a single season since 1991. Brady also earned his NFL-record 15th Pro Bowl selection. His 5,316 passing yards marked a career high and were the third-most in NFL history. In addition, Brady’s passing and yardage totals in 2021 each set new single-season franchise records. With Christensen’s assistance, Brady also led the NFL in 2021 in passing first downs (269), completions of 20+ yards (75) and completions of 25+ yards (42) while tying for first in both 300-yard passing games (nine) and 400-yard passing games (three).
 
In 2020, Christensen coached Brady through his first year with Tampa Bay following 20 seasons with the New England Patriots. With Christensen’s assistance, Brady led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl LV victory, setting a franchise record with 40 passing touchdowns, which also broke the NFL record for the highest total by a player in his first season with a team. Brady tied for the second-most touchdown passes in the NFL in 2020 and he also ranked second in completions (401), third in passing yards (4,633), sixth in passing touchdown percentage (6.6) and seventh in touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.33). He was the only quarterback in 2020 to finish in the top three in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. As a team, Tampa Bay ranked third in the NFL in points scored per game (30.8), fourth in passing yards per game (298.5) and seventh in total offense (384.1).
 
The tandem’s success carried over into the postseason, during which Brady’s 10 touchdown passes, 1,061 passing yards and 81 completions all set franchise records for the most by a player in a single postseason.
 
In his first season with the Bucs in 2019, Christensen mentored Winston, who guided an offense that led the league in passing at 302.8 yards per game and ranked third in total offense at 397.9 yards per contest. Under Christensen’s guidance, Winston set franchise records with 5,109 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and 380 completions. In 2019, Winston led the NFL in passing yards, ranked second in the league in passing touchdowns and finished tied for fifth with an 8.2 yards per attempt mark.
 
Christensen’s NFL career also included a first stint with the Buccaneers (1996-2001) as well as time with the Indianapolis Colts (2002-15) and Miami Dolphins (2016-18). His first NFL coaching experience came with Tampa Bay, serving as the team’s tight ends coach (1996-98) before he became the quarterbacks coach (1999-2000). In 2001, Christensen worked as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, helping wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson set a franchise record with 106 receptions.
 
Following his first stint with Tampa Bay, Christensen spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and helped the team win Super Bowl XLI. He first worked as the wide receivers coach (2002-07) before adding assistant head coach (2008-09) to his title. During his time coaching the receivers, Christensen tutored Hall of Famer Harrison and perennial Pro Bowler Reggie Wayne, who rank first and second in nearly every receiving category in Colts history. During that time, Harrison was a two-time first-team AP All-Pro and earned five Pro Bowl berths, while Wayne earned four Pro Bowl berths and a first-team AP All-Pro selection. Wayne also earned Pro Bowl berths in 2009 and 2010.
 
Christensen spent two seasons as the Colts’ offensive coordinator (2010-11), working with Manning in 2010, who set then-career-highs and then-single season franchise records for completions (450), attempts (679) and yards (4,700).
 
Christensen took over as quarterbacks coach for his final four seasons with the Colts (2012-15), coaching Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Luck set NFL rookie records in passing yards (4,374) and 300-yard passing games (six) while breaking the league record for single-game passing yards by a rookie (433 vs. Miami). In 2014, Luck set the single-season franchise record for passing yards (4,761) and led the NFL in passing touchdowns, with 40, earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection and helping lead the Colts to the AFC Championship Game.
 
Christensen spent 17 years as a college coach before entering the NFL, working at Clemson (1994-95), Maryland (1992-93), South Carolina (1991), Holy Cross (1989-90), East Carolina (1986-88), Temple (1983-95), East Tennessee State (1980-82) and Ole Miss (1979).
 
A native of Covina, Calif., Christensen played at Fresno City Junior College before finishing his collegiate career at North Carolina (1977-78).

 

 

 

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