J's World: Longtime Palmer High football mentor a great coach, better man

Wednesday afternoon, it was official. Longtime Palmer High School football mentor Rod Christiansen announced his retirement from coaching.

After 28 seasons, 159 wins, six trips to the title game and a state championship, Christiansen is handing over the program he helped build into a state power. A few hours after talking to Christiansen about his decision, I received a text from Christiansen’s son, Adam.

“I just called my dad today and talked to him for a bit. He told me about his retirement announcement and said you called about three hours later for an interview. I am sure he had some great things to say, but what he didn’t tell you was that he was already embracing his retirement in true Rodney Christiansen fashion. While you interviewed him, he sat in a duck blind on Mud Lake, behind some decoys, trying his luck for a mallard before it got dark,” Adam wrote.

That’s Rod Christiansen. At peace with a decision, with no need to be under the spotlight.

“He doesn’t do anything for himself. It’s all about the kids,” Kay Omer, an assistant on Christiansen’s staff since 1994, said. “He didn’t want to take the attention for himself. He wanted the attention on the kids.”

Palmer offensive coordinator Tim Popowski, an assistant for the past 12 seasons, has been named Christiansen’s successor. Popowski said Christiansen’s desire to help his players is what stood out most during the time they shared in the program.

“It’s all about the kids. We’re all part of something that’s bigger than ourselves,” Popowski said. “We wanted those guys to walk out of the program better men, prepare them for life.”

Christiansen retires with the state record for wins in a career. He’s been named Coach of the Year multiple times. He took six teams to the state title game. He is the only head coach to ever lead a Valley team to an Alaska football state title.

But Popowski is right. For 28 years, Christiansen’s priority was helping his players. I know that because I am one of them.

In 1991, I was a clueless freshman on the high school football field for the first time. But I wasn’t the only one on their first day. My first day of high school football, was Christiansen’s first practice as head coach of the Palmer High football program.

At that point I had no clue what the future would hold. Little did I know, that day would be the first of Christiansen’s historic run with the Palmer football program.

Former Palmer High activities director Mike Janecek named Christiansen Palmer’s fourth head football coach in school history.

“Rod was certainly one of the best hires I made at PHS,” Janecek wrote to me recently. “I always found Rod to be the kind of coach that belongs in high school sports. Educated, calm, thoughtful and respectful of his athletes.”

Janecek saw Christiansen as a young coach, with ties to the school and the community. Christiansen is a Palmer High School graduate, who returned to coach, and eventually teach, at his alma mater. He understood and embraced this history, and those close to the program.

Dan Strouse, Palmer’s first head coach after the Palmer-Wasilla Falcons program Christiansen played for split into the two high school teams in 1979.

Omer, an assistant on Strouse’s staff for four years.

Fred Machetanz, a famous local artist, an avid supporter of Palmer football, and the man Palmer High’s home field is named for.

“His respect for Fred M. always warmed my heart, and to this day I can see his team gathered around the Fred (Machetanz) memorial at PHS before every game,” Janecek said. “That’s the culture that is instilled in young men and women. That is way more important than Xs and Os.”

And the players.

“He had a way of getting the most from each of his players,” Janecek said.

Christiansen also surrounded himself with great coaches, great men who shared the same passion for the program, school and community. Omer, and former assistants Brad Hanson and Keith Armstrong spent decades with Christiansen.

“He didn’t micromanage any of the assistant coaches,” Omer said. “He trusted them, what they could do. It wasn’t an ego thing. He wanted everybody to be successful.”

Christiansen’s list of loyal assistants is long, and he valued them all. But I know the opportunity to share his time in the football program with his wife, Temple, and his sons Collin, Cameron, Adam and Aaron is something he has cherished.

“Both coaching my kids and having my kids coach with me is a unique reward,” Christiansen said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

And it’s been a lot of fun for me.

To me, like all of us who have the chance to be a part of his program, Christiansen will always be Coach C.

I feel fortunate.

I was on the field for Coach C’s first practice as head coach. I was there for his first win, a victory at Nikiski during the first week of the 1991 season. I was there for his first Potato Bowl win as a head coach in 1992. I was on the field for Coach C’s first career playoff win, a victory over Lathrop in 1994. After graduating, as a freshman in college, I celebrated on the field after Palmer won it all in 1995.

I had the chance to cover Coach C’s 100th win, a victory over Service in the playoffs, and win No. 150, a victory at Eagle River.

But more important than that, I’ve had a chance to know Coach C for more than half of my life.

I’ll repeat what Popowski said, one more time.

“We wanted those guys to walk out of the program better men.”

Coach C’s influence on me made me a better man.

Thank you Coach C for everything you have done for your players, your program and your community.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.