Longtime Palmer football coach to be inducted into ASAA Hall of Fame

One of the greatest coaches in Alaska prep football history has earned his spot in the Alaska Schools Activities Association Hall of Fame. Longtime Palmer High School mentor Rod Christiansen will be inducted May 5 in Anchorage as part of ASAA’s 2024 class.

Christiansen, a 1978 graduate of Palmer High School, spent 28 seasons at the helm of Palmer High football. He retired at the top of Alaska’s prep football wins ladder, with a record 159 career wins.

“He doesn’t do anything for himself. It’s all about the kids,” Kay Omer, an assistant on Christiansen’s staff since 1994, said after Christiansen called it a career in 2018. “He didn’t want to take the attention for himself. He wanted the attention on the kids.”

In 2017 Christiansen set the all-time record for career wins in Alaska. With a victory over Eagle River, Christiansen tied the prior mark of 150 wins, held by the late Buck Nystrom, who coached at Eielson and North Pole. The following week, with a Palmer win at Kenai Central, Christiansen earned his 151st career victory, breaking Nystrom’s record.

Christiansen led Palmer to its first ASAA state title game in 1995, and the Moose earned the championship with a 12-7 victory over Chugiak. The Christiansen-led Moose also advanced to the large-schools state title game in 1996, 2005 and 2007, and the Division II championship game in 2016 and 2017. Since leading Palmer to the ASAA playoffs for the first time in 1994, Palmer missed the postseason only twice since during his career as head coach.

He was also named the state’s coach of the year five times during his career.

“He consistently placed the needs of his players above all else,” Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries said in a press release issued by ASAA. “His impact reverberates not only through the accolades and championships, but also through the lasting relationships he cultivated and the positive vibes he instilled in his students.”

DeVries’ sons Keith Armstrong and Gordon DeVries were both part of Christiansen’s Palmer football programs. Armstrong was a longtime assistant on staffs that also included Omer, Brad Hanson and Tim Popowski, his successor at the helm of Moose football. Christiansen praised his coaching staff throughout the success during his time with Palmer football.

Gordon DeVries helped lead the Moose to their first ASAA playoff win in school history, Christiansen’s fourth year as head coach.

Christiansen was supported by Temple, his wife of more than 30 years. He also had the opportunity to coach his sons Collin, Cameron, Adam and Aaron. Adam is now on Palmer High’s coaching staff.

Christiansen also coached Nordic skiing at Palmer, and taught math and science.

Christiansen is joined by Jim Beeson, a longtime Kenai Central football coach, in ASAA’s class of 2024. Christiansen and Beeson are among just a handful who have more than 100 wins as a head football coach in Alaska.

The 2024 class also includes Travis Adams (Barrow athlete), Zack Bowman (Bartlett athlete), Jordan Clarke (Barrow athlete), Raymond Douville (Craig athlete), Billy Jack (Nome coach), Shawn Lundgren (Fairbanks coach), Jesstine Pili (Barrow athlete), Ward Romans (Nikiski coach), Terek Rutherford (drama and debate, Anchorage) and Dean Overbey (lifetime achievement, Nenana).

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontierdsman.com.