Chris Jensen has been the architect of modern Oklahoma Baptist football since the program's return to competition in 2013. Hired in 2012 to rebuild the Bison program after more than seven decades without football, Jensen enters his 14th season as the only head coach in OBU's modern era. Since taking the field for the inaugural season of the program's revival, the Bison have posted four winning seasons, a postseason bowl victory, 90 All-Conference selections, 20 All-Americans, and more than 100 Academic All-Conference honorees under Jensen's leadership.

Jensen owns 49 career victories at OBU, the second-most coaching wins in school history and the most in the modern era. He has directed every game of the program's resurrection, guiding the Bison from startup status into a competitive member of the Great American Conference.

Among the highlights of Jensen's tenure was the historic 2021 season, when Oklahoma Baptist posted an 8-4 record, earned the program's first postseason berth, and defeated UT Permian Basin in the Fun Town RV Heritage Bowl for the first bowl victory in school history. That team produced four All-Americans, 10 All-GAC selections, three All-Region honorees and one of the most productive offenses in program history. The Bison established numerous school records during the campaign, including marks for total offense, passing offense, passing touchdowns and first downs.

Jensen's teams have produced some of the most decorated student-athletes in school history. Quarterback Preston Haire became a two-time Great American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and finished his career as OBU's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes and total offense. Wide receivers Keilahn Harris and Joshua Cornell earned All-America recognition while rewriting the Bison record book. Running back Tyler Stuever became the program's career rushing leader, and linebacker Josh Arnold finished his career as the all-time tackles leader.

Player development has become a hallmark of Jensen's program. In addition to coaching 20 All-Americans and dozens of All-Conference performers, Jensen has helped multiple players continue their careers professionally. Keilahn Harris signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2023, while Haire signed with the Hamburg Sea Devils and offensive lineman Jake Foshee joined the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.

The Bison also enjoyed one of the most successful stretches in program history from 2018 through 2023. During that period, OBU won 21 consecutive games against Oklahoma opponents and posted undefeated records against in-state competition in 2018, 2019 and 2021. The streak remains the longest winning streak against Oklahoma opponents in program history.

Jensen's 2023 squad delivered another milestone season, finishing 6-5 and recording the best home record of the NCAA Division II era. The Bison led the Great American Conference in passing defense for the first time in program history and produced six All-GAC selections, while Scooter Baker and Brett Karhu became the first defensive All-Americans of OBU's Division II era.

Success came quickly after the program's return. Just two years after taking the field, Jensen guided OBU to an 8-3 record in 2014, matching a school record for victories in a season and producing one of the top offensive and defensive teams in program history. The Bison finished the season nationally ranked and established many of the team records that still stand today.

Before arriving on Bison Hill, Jensen built another football program from the ground up at Southmoore High School. In just the school's second varsity season, the SaberCats advanced to the Oklahoma Class 6A semifinals, and Jensen earned District 6A-1 Coach of the Year honors in 2009.

Jensen's coaching career also includes assistant coaching stops at Westmoore, Bartlesville, Durant, Moore and Little Axe. A former offensive lineman at the University of Oklahoma, he earned his bachelor's degree in education from OU in 1992 before receiving a master's degree in educational administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2006.

Jensen and his wife, Patti, have four children, Tayler, Tanner, Camryn and Isaiha, along with sons-in-law Quinten and Grayson and granddaughter Caroline. They are members of Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee.

UPDATED: 7/30/26