Roland W Christensen

Roland W. (Coach Chris)Christensen, 84, of La Crosse, passed away from heart failure on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.

Roland was born in Soldier, IA on July 13, 1927 to Harry and Elvira Christensen. He graduated from Burt (IA) High School in 1945 and from Iowa State Teachers College in 1950. He earned his Masters Degree from the University of Minnesota and his Doctorate Degree from Oklahoma State University. Roland served in the U.S. Navy and was a proud member of the Roy L. Vingers Post 52 American Legion in La Crosse.

He began his long teaching career at CAL Community High School in Latimer, IA where he met Laura (Jensen) and on April 18, 1952, they were united in marriage. In 1960, after teaching at various High Schools in Iowa and Illinois, he began his career at UW-La Crosse as a professor in the Mathematics Department where he remained until his retirement in 1992.

Roland, Dad, Grandpa, Coach Chris, or Rollie, all names he was affectionately known as, loved to coach. During his High School teaching days he coached everything from wrestling to basketball to track. However, it was at UW-La Crosse where Coach Chris started his collegiate coaching career, serving as an assistant football coach for the Indians/Eagles from 1960 to 1999. In 39 seasons, Coach Chris helped establish one of the best football programs in the country and helped the Eagles achieve an overall record of 261-75-7, with 14 trips to the playoffs and three national titles. His defenses, known for their toughness and hard-hitting, produced 45 All-Americans, including those who have played in the National Football League: Joel Williams, Ric Mathias and Mike Maslowski.

In the Eagles drive to the 1992 NCAA Division III national title, UW-Ls head coach, Roger Harring, was sidelined with heart surgery two weeks into the season. Coach Chris took the reigns as interim head coach and guided UW-L to its first undefeated season in 38 years with a 12-0-1 record. Fittingly, Coach Chris and Coach Harring were named the WSUC co-coaches of the year and he was also named the Division III national co-coach of the year by the Wilkes-Barre Downtown Touchdown Club.

Coach Chris never really retired from coaching. From 2000 to 2007, he coached at Winona State University. He very much enjoyed his years at Winona and helped them earn their first ever playoff victory. This year, up to the time of his passing, he returned to UW-L in an advisory capacity. He once stated that he bled Maroon and Gray and was very happy to once again be assisting with the UW-L football program.

Although he is probably best known for coaching football, Rollie was also a longtime baseball coach. He began coaching his sons, Steve and Andy, in little league and continued to coach them through college and beyond. In 1973, Rollie was recruited to coach the Coon Valley semi-professional team. He promptly led them to the State Championship game. In 1978, Rollie moved the Coon Valley team to La Crosse when they became known as the La Crosse Old Styles and one of the best semi-professional teams in the Midwest was formed. The Old styles won 2 State tournaments and appeared in 2 national tournaments. Many of the players on those teams came from UW-La Crosse where Rollie was an assistant coach from 1973 to 1980 and from 1984 to 1987. In 1979, he helped coach UW-L to their only national tournament appearance.

Rollie was as fierce of a competitor on the baseball field as he was on the football field. He was a very competitive person and didnt like to lose. As he once stated while playing an away baseball game, We didnt come here to be loved.

Coach Chris was a very humble man and was never one to flaunt his accomplishments, of which there were many. In addition to those mentioned above, in 1985, he was inducted into the UW-L Wall of Fame; in 1997, he was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) assistant coach of the Year; in 1998, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame; and, in 2009, he received the AFCA Outstanding Achievement Award.

Dad truly cherished the relationships and bonds that he formed with his players, fellow coaches and students. They were all a significant part of his life and he enjoyed every minute of practice and competition. No one was more competitive, or more instrumental in his teams successes. He stressed Pride, Poise and Pursuit of excellence on the athletic fields and in life.

Roland was a loving husband; Dad was a loving father and Grandpa, and especially enjoyed spending time with his 4 granddaughters. He always made sure to give them a big hug when they said good-bye. Inside that gruff exterior was really the heart of a teddy bear.

Roland is survived by his wife of 59 years, Laura; sons, Steven (Stacie) of Monroe, WI, Andrew of La Crosse, David (Jenifer) of La Crosse; granddaughters McKenna, Jensen, Ellie and Katie Christensen; siblings, Phyllis (Roger) Schmidt of Titonka, IA; Russell (Ruth) Christensen of Shalimar, FL; William (Avis) Christensen of Burt, IA; Beverly Christensen of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; Wayne Christensen of Olathe, KS and numerous nieces and nephews. Roland was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Elvira Christensen.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, October 29th, 2011 at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church at 233 West Avenue South in La Crosse with Rev. J. Taylor Haley officiating. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, October 28th from 4:00 8:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, and on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. Immediately following the service, there will be a celebration of his life at the Cleary alumni and Friends Center at 615 East Avenue North on the UW-L campus.

Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church, The Roland W. and Laura J. Christensen Scholarship in Mathematics at UW-La Crosse, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, or the American Legion Baseball Program Post 52 in La Crosse.