Christensen to review Wyoming recruits, staff

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- New Wyoming coach Dave Christensen plans to do all the usual tasks associated with taking over a program -- deciding which assistants to keep, which recruits to pursue and meeting with reporters.

First, though, he's got this small bit of unfinished business before him in the form of a Big 12 title game and a bowl to be determined.

"I'm going to stay coaching at Missouri with our kids through the bowl game," Christensen said. "I owe it to the program for what it's done for me and I want an opportunity to finish the season off with the kids who are here. They are very, very dedicated and I owe it to them to do that."

Christensen's five-year contract at Wyoming provides a base salary of $180,000 a year. With incentives, his pay could top $750,000 a year. He replaced Joe Glenn, who was fired Nov. 23 after four losing seasons in six years at Wyoming.

On Sunday, he plans to return to Laramie, where one of his first tasks will be to meet with coaches and possibly players.

"I'm not positive what I'm going to do with any positions," Christensen said. "I've got a few guys I've offered jobs to I'm waiting to hear on. I'm going to be available to visit with all staff to see what their interest is and then if there's a place for them."

He also planned to get assistants out recruiting starting Monday. Meanwhile, he will look over the players Wyoming has been pursuing up to now.

"We're going to reevaluate all offers that are out there," he said. "Right now, there's four commitments, I believe, and we'll honor those commitments. But we'll to have to reevaluate everyone who's offered to see if we'll still have a scholarship offer for them."

He promised big changes to the Wyoming program, starting with preventing turnovers. Wyoming ranked second to last in the football bowl subdivision for turnovers this year.

"We're going to continue, again, to play rock solid on defense," he said. "And we're going to do some things pretty exciting offensively, I think."

He said he will install a "fast-tempo, no-huddle spread offense."

Missouri offense fourth in the nation with 45 points per game and sixth with 509 yards per game.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Related topics