Briar Cliff Athletics
Kevin Pottebaum, Sports Information Director
SIOUX CITY – Briar Cliff Athletic Director Nic Scandrett has announced that Cory Christensen will return to his alma mater to coach the men’s soccer team.
Christensen graduated from the Cliff in 1997 as the career goals leader for the Chargers with 40. After graduating, he played with the Sioux City Breeze (1997-98) and professionally with the Arizona Saguaros (2000-02) before getting into coaching full time.
“Cory is a very talented coach that’s had tremendous success everywhere he has been,” Scandrett said. “What’s really special about Cory is his genuine excitement to be back at Briar Cliff. We are equally excited to have him as the leader of our program.”
Christensen, a graduate of North High School in Sioux City, got his first coaching job as an assistant at Bishop Heelan while he was a student at Briar Cliff. He then became the head coach for West High School for two years while still competing for the Blue and Gold.
His first job in coaching after his playing days was with the Arizona Heatwave, a member of the USL W-League (a women’s development league). Since then he has coached at the high school and college levels with his most recent position being the head women’s and assistant men’s coach at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, New York. The Wildcats’ women’s team went 12-5-1 in 2018 under Christensen and broke several program records including wins, goals and shutouts.
“I’m super excited about coming home and taking over a very good program,” Christensen said. “Coming home is amazing, the thought of it is still shocking to me.”
Along with the success on the field for the Wildcats, the women’s squad also excelled in the classroom under Christensen. The team had the top GPA among all varsity sports at Cazenovia.
“Cory did a tremendous job to keep academics as a top priority with his program at Cazenovia College,” Scandrett noted. “We look forward to continuing that effort at Briar Cliff.”
Other soccer organizations that Christensen has worked for include the Syracuse Development Academy Soccer Club in Syracuse, New York; Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club in Gilbert, Arizona and Barney Indoor Sports Complex in Queen Creek, Arizona.