Janis Christopher is an accomplished head coach who has been instrumental in building the athletic programs at both the Colorado School of Mines and Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) into competitive status. She is currently entering her tenth season at MSU Denver, where she coaches the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track for both men and women.

Christopher is also in her seventh season as the head coach of the men's and women's track and field teams, and her second season as the head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams. In track and field, she specializes in coaching the sprinters, horizontal jumpers, and hurdlers, while also overseeing the entire program.

Under Christopher's leadership, the MSU Denver track and field teams have achieved numerous accomplishments. In the 2021-2022 indoor season, the women set school records in seven events, and the men set a school record in the high jump. Nick Nowlen qualified for Division II Indoor Nationals in the 800 for the first time since 2019. The women had 45 performances that ranked among the top eight in program history in their events, while the men had 14. At the RMAC Championships, the men placed eighth with 19 points, while the women were ninth with 19.

In the 2021 outdoor season, multiple school records were broken, and sprinter Blaize Holland was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. Holland qualified for the National Championships in both the 100 and 200 and earned All-America status by finishing sixth in the 200m. The MSU Denver men finished eighth at the RMAC Championships with 44 points, while the women were 11th with 14 points.

Before coaching at MSU Denver, Christopher spent 17 seasons as an assistant coach at the Colorado School of Mines, where she worked with the sprinters and middle distance. During her time at Mines, she coached 42 All-Americans and two national champions. Her sprinters and runners also had success outside of the NCAA as she coached four USA Track & Field Junior Olympics national qualifiers and one USATF Junior Olympics regional champion in the 800 meters. She was instrumental in helping the Orediggers win numerous RMAC team championships.

Christopher's coaching philosophy is centered on building strong relationships with her student-athletes and creating a supportive and competitive team culture. In addition to her coaching duties, Christopher is also actively involved in promoting academic success for her athletes. Erin Norton and the women's team earned Academic Awards from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Overall, Christopher has established herself as one of the top track and field coaches in the Rocky Mountain region, and she continues to build upon her legacy of success at MSU-Denver.