Indiana State University Athletics

Indiana State University President Mike Godard has selected Nathan Christensen as the Sycamores' new Director of Athletics. Christensen joined Indiana State after serving as Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, S.D. from 2021-25. He started at Indiana State in July 2024.
 
As Indiana State's director of athletics, Christensen will lead Indiana State's athletic staff and act as a member of the President's cabinet, being a partner on campus for athletics and academics. He will oversee athletic programs competing in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), and the NCAA. He will also work with community members, donors, and alumni to continue building the "Crossroad of Champions" program, empowering student-athletes in their name, image, and likeness (NIL) exposure and opportunities.

Christensen created momentum in his first year as the Director of Athletics at Indiana State University. The Sycamore Athletic Department posted a record-breaking year for overall athletics revenue in the 2024-2025 year, which was an increase of 29% from the prior year. In February 2025, Christensen established the Investor Society a new philanthropic leadership society dedicated to empowering Indiana State University student-athletes to excel in competition, in the classroom, and in life. Membership into the Investor Society has grown over 105% within just 10 months since it began. Corporate sponsorship grew by more than 68%, season ticket sales grew by 32% and Crossroad of Champions grew by 147%. 
 
Sycamore student-athletes continue to excel with posting above a 3.30 cumulative GPA for the fourth consecutive year. Also had a record of 693 student athletes recognized on the Athletic Directors Honor Roll over the 2024-2025 academic year. 
 
The Indiana State Athletic Department, Student-Athletes, and Coaches served over 1,500 hours of community service within the Vigo County and Terre Haute communities. The Sycamores implemented High Five Fridays at Vigo County elementary schools, while also working with the Indiana Special Olympics, the Buddy Walk, and other various initiatives.
 
Indiana State Athletics had another banner year in competition as the Sycamores finished with four Missouri Valley Conference Championship titles. The Indiana State swimming and diving team claimed their first Missouri Valley Championship recording 1,440.5 points over the four-day event at the Waukee CSD Natatorium over February 26-March 1. The Sycamores’ women’s track & field program claimed the Indoor MVC Championships in Chicago, Ill. over March 2-3. The Indiana State men’s and women’s track & field teams capped the year by sweeping the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships held in Carbondale, Ill. over May 17-18. Indiana State’s four team conference titles were second-most among the Missouri Valley Conference schools in 2024-25.
 
Since becoming the Director of Athletics, Christensen has hired head coaches Tracy Archuleta (Baseball) and Windy Thees (Softball) and awarded contract extensions to Angie Martin (Track & Field / Cross Country) and Josh Christensen (Swimming & Diving)
 
Christensen joined SDSU in August of 2021. He oversaw multiple administrative units and sports, including the annual fund, capital projects, endowed scholarships, special events, and the ticket office. He was also the sports administrator for women's soccer and the track and field & cross-country programs. Notably, he secured the first-ever endowed Head Coach position at the university - a track and field coach – one of only eleven such positions nationwide. In 2021, SDSU reached a fundraising record, raising over $42 million from more than 4,100 donors.
 
Before his appointment at SDSU, Christensen served at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) as Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs from May 2018 to August 2021 and as Assistant Athletics Director for Development and Director of the Panther Scholarship Club from December 2016 to May 2018. At UNI, he raised over $10.2 million for athletics scholarships. From 2008 to 2016, Christensen worked at Minnesota State University, Mankato, acting as Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations and Director of Marketing and Sales for Athletics.
 
Christensen is a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a Master's in Sports Management and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management.
 
Christensen and his wife, Kalli, are the parents of two children, Eleanor and Kelby, and will be relocating to Terre Haute.