Nate Rasmussen - Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach - Baseball Coaches - University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Nate Rasmussen

Title:
Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach
Email:
nathan.rasmussen@unco.edu
Phone:
801.548.7328

Nate Rasmussen joined the Bear baseball staff as an assistant in July of 2016 and was promoted to Recruiting Coordinator in June of 2018. He serves as the hitting coach, outfield coach, third base coach, and runs the offensive gameplay on the field.

In 2018 the Bear offense burst on to the scene as one of the best in Division I baseball. Rasmussen’s offense posted a top 50 ranking in almost every offensive category including BABIP(.388,1st), Runs Per Game(7.06,17th), On Base Percentage(.392,28th), Batting Average(.295,28th), Doubles Per Game(2.02,32nd), and Hit by Pitches(76,32nd). The Bears truly did this as a team, as there were 11 players with 5+ extra-base hits, 8 players with 17+ walks, 6 players with .425+ on-base percentages,10 players with 20+ runs and 12 players with a home run. Lightning could strike at any point with the Bears, as they scored almost half of their runs on the year with 2 outs (3.28 per game).

Often stated, Colorado gets a name for exaggerated offense because of the elevation, but the 2018 Bears were just as good away from Jackson Field. They averaged 6.57 Runs Per Game on the road, which included 5.22 walks, 2.91 extra-base hits and over 10 hits per game on the road. The Bears offensive approach was key to winning their most games since joining the WAC in 2013 (29).

In 2017, Rasmussen's first season as hitting coach, the Bears had their best offensive year since joining the WAC. The Bears tallied their most runs, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBIs. The explosive Bear offense also recorded its highest team batting average and on-base percentage since becoming a WAC member. The 2017 Bear offense featured 4 different players with double-digit doubles for the first time since 2011, and 13 different players with a home run for the first time since 2009.

Rasmussen spent the previous four seasons as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. While at Pacific, Rasmussen worked with a variety of defensive position groups, was the hitting coach and also ran the offense and served as third base coach. In addition, Rasmussen was also the head coach of Pacific’s junior varsity program.

During his time at Pacific, Rasmussen signed five all-conference players and one all-region player in three recruiting classes. The 2016 Boxer offense combined to break eight individual school records, lead all of Division III baseball in runs per game and senior right fielder Walker Olis was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 29th round, the first Pacific ballplayer drafted since 1991. Rasmussen has strong recruiting ties in Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada, and his home state of Utah.

In the summer of 2015, Rasmussen was the head coach of the Portland Lobo’s in the NWCBL. He also spent time as a hitting coach for the Boys of Summer Baseball Club out of Bellevue, Washington. Rasmussen is also an established clinician who has served as a guest instructor and Stanford University, University of Washington, Head First, and Top 96 baseball camps.

As a player, Rasmussen was a three-time All-Conference selection at Pacific. He was selected as a first team All-NWC selection at second base in 2011 and was the team captain on Pacific’s 2012 NWC championship team. Rasmussen played his prep baseball at perennial baseball powerhouse Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah. He was a first team all-state selection, leading Bingham to a second-place state finish in 2008.

Rasmussen graduated from Pacific in 2012 with a degree in business with an emphasis in marketing. He resides in Greeley with his wife Alissa.