Niwot names Palmer Ridge’s Kelly Christensen new cross country coach
Niwot has hired a rising star in the cross country coaching ranks, tabbing Palmer Ridge’s Kelly Christensen to lead both its boys and girls programs.
Cougars athletic director Chase McBride announced the hire late Monday night.
Christensen has been the head boys and girls coach at Palmer Ridge for the past two seasons, leading the boys to a Class 4A championship in 2014, and a runner-up finish in 2015. He also headed the Bears boys track teams, and coached them to back-to-back championships in 2014 and 2015.
He was also an assistant at Thompson Valley, where he helped the girls track team win a 4A championship in 2012.
“Obviously, coach Christensen brings a wealth of knowledge, and running experience as former collegiate All-American with him, but what impresses me most is his want to develop a student-athlete,” said Niwot athletic director Chase McBride. “He prides himself on helping young men and women to use athletics to learn life lessons. He is a once-in-a-life-time type coach.”
Christensen will also be an assistant with Niwot’s track teams in the spring, specializing in distance. The Cougars’ girls teams won back-to-back 4A championships in 2014 and 2015.
Christensen will also become a counselor at Niwot.
“He was a hands down favorite in our candidate pool of counselors — his student-first approach is clearly genuine,” McBride said. “He will be an amazing addition to our coaching staff, counseling department, and community. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on board.”
