The two-word phrase “full circle” typically means when one embarks on a long journey—and when said journey brings them back to its original origin of departure.
That has been the case for former WNBA player Kristin Rasmussen. That journey began at Okemos High School prior to playing collegiate basketball at Michigan State, which is not too far away from Okemos High.
Now, she has returned to her high school alma mater to be the head coach for her hometown team.
Rasmussen was selected in 2000 as one of the first MSU Spartans to be selected in the program’s history. Her career includes stints with the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, and Minnesota Lynx as well as a stretch where she tested the international waters. She played in over 200 games in her career in The W and started in nearly 100 of them.
She assumed the position of head coach at Okemos after time in the Division III NCAA ranks with Simmons College in Boston.
I like the idea of being back at the school where my career started at. I’m just looking forward to helping the players develop this program and put our program as something that kids in the Okemos school district want to be a part of. It’s exciting, and it’s new.
Looking back on my life and what the community brought, not only to myself, but to my family, to my friends, it’s just a place where I wanted to be.
–Kristen Rasmussen
She said that the wealth of basketball knowledge she gained through her playing and earlier coaching career has made it especially gratifying for her to return to where it all began.
There’s a lot of basketball that I’ve gained, and being able to come back to where you grow up, it’s just—it’s almost like a dream that I didn’t know that I had until I’m actually in it, and now I get to live it.
Rasmussen said her aims are to establish a culture of girls basketball that encompasses the entire program and to encourage other players that they too can follow in her footsteps.
This game has brought so much to my life. It is a tool that I can use to explore the world, to give back to the community, to make other players realize that their dreams can come true—that I am just like the little kids that come into our camps, that are so excited that have the basketball and get the t-shirt.
–Kristen Rasmussen
(Video courtesy: Fox Sports Detroit)
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
