"Chris Creighton emerged as the top candidate in a very competitive pool," says Ditzler. "I am confident that his coaching philosophy will support the College's mission. I'm very excited about the future of Wabash College football under his leadership."
Creighton, a 1991 graduate of Kenyon College, received his master's degree from Concordia University in 1993, where he had served as assistant coach for quarterbacks, wide receivers, and punters. From 1993 through 1996, he was offensive coordinator at Manchester College, where his teams set 10 single-game and single-season offensive records. Creighton's first Little Giant team will face his former Manchester team in the 2001 season opener.
"I couldn't be happier with our selection of Chris Creighton," says Athletic Director Vernon Mummert. "I believe he can be a strong leader for us in the North Coast Athletic Conference, and I'm looking forward to working with him"
Creighton has spent the last four seasons rebuilding the football program at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas. Inheriting a team that had gone 1-8 the year before he arrived, Creighton has produced a 32-7 record over the last four years. His Ottawa teams made the NAIA playoffs in 1997 and 2000, winning Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in both years.
While at Ottawa, Creighton produced 68 all-conference players; 18 NAIA all-Americans; and 16 Academic All-Americans. In addition to serving as head coach, Creighton served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He produced two All-American quarterbacks who ranked in the top-10 nationally in passing offense three consecutive years. Twenty-four school records were either broken or tied during his tenure, and his teams have averaged 46 points per game in victories. Defensively, his teams have been nationally ranked in rushing and total defense, and have averaged more than 25 forced turnovers per year.
Wabash sophomore linebacker Nathan Boulais, who served on the search committee, thinks Creighton's approach to team building will be beneficial at Wabash. "He is passionate about building team leadership and leaders in general, and wants to instill qualities and skills that will transcend football and overflow into the lives of all of us."
Creighton was a strong-armed quarterback while an undergraduate at NCAC member Kenyon College. An all-conference selection, Creighton led Kenyon to its only NCAC football championship in 1989. In 1990, Creighton set NCAC single-season records by throwing for 2,843 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Wabash's offense, led by sophomore quarterback Jake Knott, junior receiver Kurt Casper, and sophomore receiver Ryan Short, set more than a dozen offensive records during the 2000 season, in which Wabash was 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the NCAC.
Coach Creighton will assume his responsibilities at Wabash on January 2, 2001.