Recruiting Areas: (area code: 507 / 712) Iowa & Illinois Junior Colleges
Christian Guenther is in his eighth season as SMSU's defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2017. He also serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
Guenther has helped oversee an opportunistic defense during his tenure, which has helped lead the team to its first Division II postseason appearance in 2013 and set a school record for victories at the Division II level in 2015.
During the 2016 season, the Mustang defense forced at least one turnover in 10 games, including three or more in five games. Senior linebacker Tyler Flud was named first team All-NSIC for the second straight season.
In 2015, SMSU put together one of its best seasons in team history, racking up eight victories and just missing qualifying for the NCAA playoffs. Senior AJ Page ranked third in the NSIC both tackles for loss and sacks, while junior Caleb Leichtnam finished fourth in the league in interceptions. The SMSU defense forced 17 turnovers during the season, including two or more in seven games and also limited a pair of opponents to less than 10 points.
Flud was named first team All-NSIC, while Page and Leichtnam were both named second team All-NSIC following the 2015 season.
In 2014, Flud was named SMSU’s team MVP, while cornerback Andrew McReynolds earned second team All-NSIC accolades after recording four interceptions.
During the 2013 season, SMSU forced two or more turnovers in six games, including recording 13 interceptions, the program’s highest total since 2009 and also scored four touchdowns. Page, was named the team’s defensive MVP and earned second team All-NSIC honors, ranking third in the league in tackles, third in tackles for loss and seventh in sacks.
The 2012 Mustang defense created 18 turnovers and help SMSU to a plus-seven in turnover ratio. SMSU created two or more turnovers in seven games and held a pair of teams to less than 300 of yards of total offense. A young Mustang defense showed signs of progress throughout the year, including limiting NSIC champion and NCAA semifinalist Minnesota State to just 24 points in regulation before losing in overtime.
In 2011, SMSU had two players—linebacker John Kersbergen and safety Levi Reiff—earn second team All-NSIC honors, while Kersbergen was named SMSU’s most valuable player.
During Guenther’s first season in 2010, the Mustang defense forced 20 turnovers, the most by an SMSU team since 2007 and second highest since 2004.
The Guenther family
Prior to SMSU, he spent nine seasons coaching at NAIA Culver-Stockton College (Mo.), including serving five seasons as head coach. During his tenure as head coach at C-SC, Guenther coached three All-Americas, 15 all-conference honorees, increased the roster from 21 players to more than 100 and helped create a junior varsity program. He also was the interim athletics director for six months in 2009.
Guenther coached on both sides of the ball during his career at Culver-Stockton, serving as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, as well as three seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Before arriving at Culver-Stockton, Guenther spent two seasons as an assistant at Minnesota State, Mankato and one spring season at Elmhurst College (Ill.).
Guenther earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Simpson College (Iowa) in 1999 and his master’s degree in sports administration from Minnesota State in 2001.
Christian and his wife, Kim, live in Marshall with sons, McCoy, Coby and Cade.
