After serving as a graduate assistant, volunteer assistant, assistant coach, meet director and director of operations, Rasmussen was promoted to head coach of the cross-country program -- and head coach for the distance track and field squad -- on July 19, 2017.
Career Coaching Highlights:
- First cross country head coach to have graduated from ASU
- Spent 2014-17 in his second stint as assistant coach with the cross country & track and field program
- Prior to returning to ASU, Rasmussen spent six seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois
- Coached a national champion, Big 10 champions and All-Americans during his tenure at Illinois
- Helped Illinois to sixth-place finish at 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships, second-best finish in school history
- Started as graduate assistant in 2003-04, followed by a volunteer assistant from 2004-06 and finally an assistant for the 2006-07 season
- ASU women's cross country team finished second at the Pac-12 Championships all three years (2004-06) Rasmussen started his coaching career & 2nd at the NCAA Championships in 2005
- Certified as a USA Track and Field Level II coach.
Career Highlights as Student-Athlete:
- 2000 Pac-10 champion in the 3,000m steeplechase; Runner-up in both 2001 and 2002
- Helped the 2001 ASU men break the 100-point barrier at the conference competition for the first time in program history In cross country
- Assisted the men's team in making history as the 1999 squad advanced to its first NCAA Championships appearance, placing 14th
- Graduated from high school locally at Mountain Ridge H.S. in Glendale
- Rasmussen and his wife, Annamarie, were wed in December 2010 and reside in Chandler
Top Athletes Coached:
- CJ Albertson -- Academic All-American, second-team All-American in 2016 3k Steeplechase, 5k ASU record holder, 2x Academic All-District, 9x First-Team All-Academic, 2x USTFCCCA All-Academic
- Shelby Houlihan -- 2017 USATF Outdoor 5k & Indoor two-mile and mile champion, 2016 Rio Olympic qualifier, 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee, 2014 NCAA Champion, 2015 NCAA runner-up, 12x All-American, 7x Pac-12 All-Academic, ASU record holder in 5 events, 4x Pac-12 T&F champion, 3x MPSF Indoor champion, 2014 Pac-12 Cross Country Champion, Pac-12 Cross Country Athlete of the Year, Pac-12 Cross Country Newcomer of the Year, 4x All-Pac-12 in cross country
- Amy Hastings-Cragg -- 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials marathon champion & placed 9th at Rio Olympics, 2015 USATF 15km champion, 2014 USATF 10km champion, 2012 U.S. Olympic Trial 10k champion, 2005 & 2006 NCAA Indoor 5k champion, 7x All-American in track & 3x in cross country, 2004 Pac-12 Cross Country Athlete of the Year and champion, 2007 Pac-12 Medal of Honor, 2x Pac-10 champion, 2007 MPSF champion, ASU record holder in two events
- Angela Bizzarri -- 3x national champion (completed the circuit as a cross country, indoor and outdoor national champion, which only seven other women have done in NCAA history), 5x Big Ten champion, 9x All-American, first Illinois women's cross country runner to win an NCAA cross country title, USTFCCCA National Cross Country Athlete of the Year, Midwest Region Athlete of the Year, Honda Sports Award winner, 6x Academic All-Big Ten selection, 2x Academic All-American, school record-holder in seven events
- Aaron Aguayo -- 4x Pac-10 steeplechase champion, One of only eight, four-time Pac-10 champions all-time, 2007 USA Outdoor runner-up, took 3rd in steeplechase at 2007 NCAA Championships, 2006 NACAC 5k champion, holds ASU record in 3k steeplechase, 2008 Olympic Trial semifinalist, 4x All-American
- Lisa Aguilera -- ASU Hall of Fame inductee, 2006 & 2010 USATF Champion in the 3k steeplechase, 2x cross country All-American, 8x total All-America honors, 6x Pac-10/12 All-Academic, 4x CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2003, 7x USTFCCCA All-Academic, holds ASU record in women's 3k steeplechase
THE RASMUSSEN FILE
EDUCATION
B.S., Arizona State University (2003)
M.S. Ed, Arizona State University (2006)
COACHING EXPERIENCE (13 Seasons)
Arizona State University - Head XC Coach, 2017-present
Arizona State University - Assistant Coach, 2014-2017
University of Illinois - Head XC Coach/Assistant TF Coach, 2007-2013
Arizona State University - Assistant Coach, 2006-07
Arizona State University - Graduate Assistant Coach, 2004-06
Arizona State University - Volunteer Assistant Coach, 2003-04