Christianson Named Assistant Volleyball Coach

March 10, 2006

GREELEY, Colo. - University of Northern Colorado head volleyball coach Lyndsey Benson announced the addition of Jim Christianson as an assistant coach to her coaching staff on Friday.

"Jim is going to be a great asset to our program and is the type of high character guy we need to continue to advance our program," said Benson, who will begin her second year as Bears head coach in 2006. "He brings enthusiasm and a well-rounded knowledge of the game. He will primarily train our hitters and his training will aid in preparation for the Big Sky next year."

Christianson brings experience as a high school, club and college coach to the Northern Colorado program. Most recently he has served as the head girls' volleyball coach at Niwot High School (2005), head club coach for the Flatirons Volleyball Club (2004-06) and was a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Colorado women's volleyball team (2004-05), a squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both of those seasons.

Christianson has also served as an assistant coach at Walla Walla College (1996) and head coach at Loma Linda Academy (1999-04) and the Yucaipa Volleyball Club (2002-04). A native of Riverside, Calif., Christianson received his bachelor's degree in health science from Walla Walla College in College Place, Wash. in 1996 and his master's in public health epidemiology and biostatistics from Loma Linda University in 1998.

"It is an exciting time to join the volleyball program here at Northern Colorado," said Christianson. "We have great potential to really compete in the Big Sky Conference. I am looking forward to getting in the gym and doing what I can to help with the program's success."

The University of Northern Colorado volleyball team becomes a member of the Big Sky Conference next season and will be eligible to compete for both a conference and NCAA Championship for the first time since starting the reclassification process to Division I in 2003.