Ankeny loses a legend in longtime coach Dick Rasmussen

The Ankeny community lost a beloved coach May 20 when Dick Rasmussen died at the age of 85.

Rasmussen was a legendary coach of both girls basketball and softball, guiding both teams to success during his time at Ankeny High.

Scott DeJong, now the Ankeny Centennial girls basketball coach, took over the Ankeny High girls basketball program from Rasmussen and said the two shared a remarkable relationship.

He said Rasmussen was always extremely supportive and a great mentor to him.

“There’s not a jealous bone in his body and he wanted us to be successful,” DeJong said. “And he always felt a part of it whenever we’d have a big win. I’d talk to him and you could see he was emotional and he felt so good and excited.”

Rasmussen led the girls basketball team to three 6-on-6 basketball championships, the only school to do so.

DeJong spoke of Rasmussen’s success as a coach, saying he was so successful because he was such a great motivator and he worked hard to teach kids the fundamentals of the game.

“He had great players, he had great coaches and a great community with lots of support,” DeJong said. “Yet it still takes, and he wouldn’t say this, it still takes a person to take all those ingredients and mold it into something that’s special. That’s hard work you couldn’t replicate, and he did that.”

Though Rasmussen brought many accolades to Ankeny girls basketball, he was even more successful with the softball team, leading the Hawks to 27 state tournaments and winning 12 state titles. The softball field at Ankeny High is named after him.

Andy Umthun, Ankeny’s athletic director, said the key to Rasmussen’s success came because he was approachable yet demanding, setting high expectations.

“Everyone that’s talked about the days of coach Rasmussen, that’s what they all say,” Umthun said. “Very demanding and very high expectations for his kids but also a great relationship with them as well.”

Rasmussen is also remembered as a pillar of the Ankeny community. DeJong said Rasmussen was so beloved because Ankeny took pride in its school's success and Rasmussen was able to relate to lots of people. Umthun mentioned how supportive Rasmussen was of the programs even after he retired.

“He retired back in 1996 but still was regularly seen at a lot of our events, especially softball, which I think was always a big love of his, a big reason why our field was named after him,” Umthun said.

Umthun also talked about the role Ramsussen played in establishing the Ankeny Coaches Hall of Honor, named after Rasmussen. He said Rasmussen also helped with the selection process and was enjoyable to work with because of the knowledge he brought and because of the institution he is in town.

Of the legacy Rasmussen leaves behind, Umthun said it’s “untouchable” with what he did with the programs and for the community.

“He’ll be long remembered as a great coach, mentor, person and avid supporter of all things Ankeny Hawks,” Umthun said.

Rasmussen graduated from Audubon High School and Iowa State Teacher’s College (now called the University of Northern Iowa), according to his obituary. He was a sergeant in the Army from 1954-57, serving in Germany. Rasmussen is survived by his wife Sue, sons Jeff, Greg and Brad and daughter Julie.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ankeny loses a legend in longtime coach Dick Rasmussen