NDSU English department lecturer Ryan Christiansen contributed two chapters to a new book titled "The 1951 Los Angeles Rams: Profiles of the NFL’s First West Coast Champions."

The book is published by McFarland and Company Inc.

Christiansen contributed to the chapter titled "Assistant Coaches" with a retelling of head scout Eddie Kotal's contributions to the Rams in Los Angeles. Kotal is best known for being the NFL's first real scout who also was the first to recruit African-American athletes from historically black colleges and universities.

Christiansen also wrote the chapter "Racial Integration and the Rams" about how the Rams re-integrated the NFL when they signed African-American player Kenny Washington to the team in 1946.

The book was written, edited and peer reviewed by dozens of contributors, who are all members of the Professional Football Researchers Association.

Christiansen earned his Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he also earned a Certificate in Publishing.

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