Rob Christophel

Position: Offensive Coordinator Alma Mater: Austin Peay State Graduated: 1984

rchristophel@missouristate.edu | 417-836-5343

Rob Christophel is in his seventh season on the Missouri State staff as the Bears' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

After helping engineer an offense that ranked 20th nationally in pass efficiency in 2011, Christophel and the Bears went through an offensive rebuilding phase last fall. MSU rebounded to average 24.6 points over its last five ball games, surrendered just 1.36 sacks per game and boasted three all-conference players.

He'll have seven starters and 18 lettermen back on the offense in 2013 including a talent-rich backfield and three-fifths of a starting o-line that was 22nd nationally in sacks allowed.

Upon his arrival in Springfield in 2007, Christophel installed a no-huddle, spread offense that produced the highest scoring average in school history for an 11-game season in 2007 as the Bears averaged 36.3 points. The Bears also averaged 49.5 points at home and went 5-1 at Plaster.

In 2008, the Bears' offense produced 312.9 yards per game, an All-American tight end in Clay Harbor, and four All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selections.

Harbor collected AP All-America and first-team All-MVFC honors for the third straight year in 2009, and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.

Likewise, the 2010 offensive unit produced a consensus All-American in OT David Arkin who was picked by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

The 2010 Bears finished 13th in the nation in total offense (425.45) and 11th in rushing yards per game (214.18), while committing just 13 turnovers in 11 games.

Behind first-team All-MVFC receiver Jermaine Saffold and the league's top producer of total offense Trevor Wooden, MSU posted the nation's 20th-best pass efficiency in 2011 (145.03), which ranked just behind Youngstown for the league lead.

A veteran with more than 20 years experience at the college level, Christophel came to Missouri State after spending five campaigns as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Louisiana-Lafayette. ULL ranked seventh in Division FBS rushing offense in 2005 while leading the Sun Belt in nine offensive categories. In 2006, the Ragin' Cajuns were 14th nationally and first in the Sun Belt in rushing offense and second in total offense.

From 1997 to 2002, Christophel was offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn., where the offensive units he guided were among the top 10 in passing offense and total offense in the NAIA from 1998-2000. Christophel held a similar position from 1992 to 1997 at Idaho State. He was also receivers coach three years and QB/WR coach for five years at Murray State from 1984 to 1992.

A native of Reading, Ohio, Christophel is a 1984 graduate of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn.

He and his wife, Paula, have two sons, Tyler and current Bears' wide receiver Eric who will be a sophomore this fall.