A legacy built on relationships: Retiring Coach Tobee Christiansen leaves Rocky Mountain track stronger than ever

For the past 11 seasons, Tobee Christiansen has served as head boys and girls track coach at Rocky Mountain High School. When he took over the program in 2015, replacing longtime coach David Beemer, he inherited a proud tradition. Eleven years later, he leaves behind the most successful era in school history.

The numbers tell an impressive story.

There are many ways to measure a coach’s success, but one is the number of individual state champions they develop. During Christiansen’s 11 seasons leading the Rocky Mountain track program, his athletes won 21 individual state championships. During the previous 41 years combined, Rocky Mountain athletes won 31 individual state championships.

Those 21 championships were earned by 14 different athletes. During the previous four decades, only 12 athletes captured individual state titles. In other words, more Rocky Mountain athletes reached the top of the podium during Christiansen’s tenure than during the previous 41 years combined.

Those totals don’t even include the lost 2020 season, when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the state track season. Eight athletes on that team had already won, or would later win, individual state championships. Had the season been completed, the program’s championship totals could have been even more remarkable.

The crowning achievement came in 2021 when Rocky Mountain boys won the first and only state boys track championship in school history. The Grizzlies scored 161 points, one of the highest team totals in Wyoming 2A history.

Yet when asked what he’ll remember most about coaching, Christiansen never mentioned championships. It was all about connecting with the athletes.

“That’s the whole reason that you do that kind of thing,” he said. “I didn’t set out to win state championships. I just wanted to build relationships and be a positive influence for kids.”

Now, after more than a decade leading the program, Christiansen has decided it’s time to step away.

“It’s been awesome. It’s been fun,” he said. “Spring is super busy for me as an athletic director, and it’s just time for somebody else to put their stamp on it.

“I want somebody else to take it and run and make it better.”

Those words reflect the same humility that has defined his coaching career.

Building a championship program

Christiansen arrived at Rocky Mountain with a strong track background. As a Grizzly athlete, he was an accomplished pole vaulter and hurdler, placing in both of those events as state. After beginning his teaching career in Idaho, he eventually returned to Wyoming and back to Rocky Mountain.  He became head coach just a few years later.

His first state champion came almost immediately.

As a freshman, Jonathan Allred shocked many by clearing 6 feet, 6 inches to win the state high jump.

“It was not really expected,” Christiansen recalled. “Especially as a freshman. We knew he was a good jumper, but that was by far his best up to that point.”

The championships kept coming.

In 2021, Branson Robinson became one of the greatest athletes in school history, winning the 100, 200 and 400 meters while anchoring the state champion 4x100 relay during Rocky Mountain’s championship season.

“Unreal athlete,” Christiansen said. “You could have put him in eight different events, and he’d have been successful.”

Distance standout Zane Horrocks also won three individual state championships that season. 

“The thing that sticks out with Zane was his work ethic,” Christiansen said. “He was always one of those kids that was at the track. He wasn’t afraid to put in the work.”

Hurdler Tristan Jewell became another multiple-time champion through hours of technical training.

“He’d stick around after the kids left and we’d drill stuff,” Christiansen said. “Just another one of those kids that cared about it.”

Christiansen believes success in the hurdles comes from dedication rather than simply natural speed.

“He’d spend a lot of time with technique drills,” he said. “We did a lot of drills.”

The magic of 2021

The 2021 state championship team may forever stand as the benchmark for Rocky Mountain track.

The Grizzlies qualified athletes across nearly every event and paired elite performers with remarkable depth. State champions, runners-up and point scorers filled the lineup from sprints to jumps to relays.

Christiansen knew after the regional meet that something special was possible.

“After regionals, we qualified enough people and crunched some numbers to know that, ‘Hey, if we perform, this is doable,’” he said.

The athletes delivered.

Rocky Mountain piled up 161 points to capture the school’s first boys state championship, a total that ranked among the highest ever recorded in Wyoming’s smaller classifications.

More than winning

Despite all the trophies and medals, Christiansen insists the relationships mattered far more than the victories.

“When you see kids in the grocery store, they still call you ‘Coach’ and still want to talk to you,” he said. “It’s that part of it that was addictive for me, being around kids and athletes and trying to help them do something better that they like to do.”

That philosophy extended into every practice.

“You want them out there having a good time,” he said. “I think we made track fun for kids. They liked being there.

“You still got to put in the work, but once the work was done, we could have some fun.”

Christiansen also understood that track demands commitment.

“You have to really love track,” he said. “You have to want to be out for track.”

A coach’s lasting influence

As Rocky Mountain’s athletic director, Christiansen has watched dozens of coaches shape young lives. He believes the true measure of coaching often isn’t visible until years later.

“A good coach doesn’t know their influence for years down the road,” he said.

“You can judge wins and losses and championships instantaneously, but a good coach, you don’t know until kids turn out.”

He believes that’s what separates good coaches from great ones.

“I think that’s the difference between a good coach and a great coach. They understand that. It’s not just about how they perform. It’s those relationships.”

Never a one-man job

Christiansen is quick to point out that Rocky Mountain’s success belonged to many people.

“The head coach gets a lot of credit, but there are four coaches on that track team all the time working with kids,” he said. “There’s no way we do that without four quality guys.

“It doesn’t happen without four people that are invested in kids. I was just fortunate to have awesome assistant coaches.”

Longtime assistant Ryan Boettcher spent years helping build the program.

“Tobee brought an athlete’s first approach to coaching track,” Boettcher said. “He was able to keep a good balance of maintaining a competitive program while creating a fun environment.”

Current throwing coach Pat Winland appreciated the confidence Christiansen placed in his staff.

“Tobee trusted his assistant coaches to coach their events, and that trust meant a lot,” Winland said. “He gave me the opportunity to work with our shot put and discus athletes while he made it a priority to watch and support all of our kids throughout the meet. Being a head track coach during a busy spring season isn’t easy, but Tobee handled it with confidence, organization and a genuine commitment to every athlete.”

Assistant coach Aric Hanusa said Christiansen’s enthusiasm helped fuel the program’s success.

“It’s hard to summarize Tobee’s contribution to RMHS track. He’s been so pivotal in the growth of the track team,” Hanusa said. “He’s got a knack for pushing athletes for improvement and keeping things fun. He was always excited for kids’ improvement. I remember when we had two pole vaulters tie his school record, and he was so proud and excited for them. That excitement is contagious and allows others to improve.”

Former Rocky Mountain principal Tim Winland watched the program develop throughout Christiansen’s tenure.

“Over the past 11 years Coach Christiansen has consistently provided an opportunity for student athletes to further their physical development and competitive spirit through all that track can offer,” Winland said. “He’s been a dependable figurehead in the community and track world. His knowledge of the sport has provided new avenues for students to excel, especially in pole vaulting. The state championship he brought home in 2021 was the result of many years of preparation and hard work. He will definitely be missed by everyone.”

Current principal Betsy Sammons echoed those sentiments.

“Tobee has been a very successful track coach for RMHS. His teams have had numerous accomplishments and a state title. Tobee’s influence and positive impact extends beyond track through the example he has set for kids over the years.”

Christiansen also expressed appreciation for the administrators who supported the program throughout his career.

“I’ve had great administrative support,” he said. “I just want to say thanks to the administrators, but especially the assistant coaches and the time they put in.”

Looking ahead

Although he’ll remain Rocky Mountain’s athletic director, Christiansen says he’ll miss the daily interaction with athletes.

“I’ll miss that part of it,” he said. “The bus rides and the chats. There’s athletes coming up that I’ll miss coaching.”

Still, he is ready for a different pace of life.

“It’s been a fun ride, and I’m excited to see what somebody else does with it,” he said.

Then, with a smile, he added one final benefit of retirement from coaching.

“It’ll be nice to enjoy the spring. It’ll be nice to put my garden in before June and go golfing once or twice before summer.”

For Rocky Mountain track, replacing Tobee Christiansen will be a difficult task. But thanks to the relationships he built, the athletes he inspired and the championship standard he established, the foundation he leaves behind may prove to be his greatest accomplishment.