Curt Christenson
Class of 2000
Fairbury-Cropsey | Pontiac | Normal (U-High)
Curt Christenson graduated from Dwight High School, where he was a record setting track and football star. He began his teaching career at Olympia High School as a physical education teacher. While there he was the Head Boys’ Track Coach and Assistant Football Coach. After three years he moved to University High School in Normal to teach physical education and coach track, football and wrestling. In 1978 he then moved to Fairbury-Cropsey to teach physical education and serve as Head Football Coach, Head Wrestling Coach and Head Girls’ Track Coach. He was then at Pontiac High School for six years from 1981 to 1987, teaching physical education, health science, and driver education while serving as Head Football and Head Wrestling Coach. In 1986 he moved back to University high School, first as an assistant for two years and then taking over the head coaching duties starting in the 1988-89 season.
During sixteen years as a head coach, Curt’s team have won 249 dual meets, captured 3 Conference titles, 11 IHSA Regional Championships and five Sectional crowns. His teams have had team placing in the state (official and unofficial) of 4th, 5th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and the 1992 University High School team place 2nd in the IHSA Dual Team State Tournament. His 1993 and 1995 U-High teams also qualified for the Dual Team State Tournament. Curt has coached 21 State Place winners and seven State Champions.
Curt has served as a member of the Central Illinois Wrestling Coaches Association Board of Directors, the Intercity Wrestling of the Illinois Coaches Association, as Vice-President of Nominations for the National Coaches Association and is a past member of the IHSA Wrestling Advisory Board. He was nominated as IWCOA Coach of the Year in 1992.
Presently Curt is the Athletic Director at University High School in Normal. In 1998 the Illinois Athletic Directors Association honored him as Class A Outstanding Athletic Director.