Most people call him Coach Ras, pronounced "Raz." This is his 4th year as an English teacher and head boys' basketball coach at NOHS and 25th year overall teaching in Georgia public schools. Besides teaching and coaching, Coach Ras also sponsors the Titans FCA Huddle. In the classroom, Coach Ras loves teaching both honors and regular level 12th English Lit./Comp. (Brit Lit.) and 10th Lit./Comp. with an emphasis on preparing students for success in college and life. He loves teaching and reciting poetry, Shakespearean and British literature, and helping students relate the themes of novels and literature to their lives today. In his coaching career, Coach Ras has mentored over 50 players who have received college basketball scholarships, in addition to dozens of all-state and all-region selections. In the past two seasons alone, four Titans have received college basketball scholarships under his tutelage. In his first season at NOHS (2019-2020), Rasmussen led the Titans to their first ever state playoff win in the program's 16-year history, their first State Sweet 16 appearance and only its second region runner-up finish ever. In his second season, the Titans earned the most wins in program history, with a 22-7 record, back-to-back region runner-up finishes, and a third straight playoff birth. Last season, the Titans had their best season ever, finishing with a 21-9 record, their third straight region runner-up finish, and their second Sweet 16 in three years and the program's first back-to-back 20-win seasons. Prior to NOHS, Coach Ras worked at Newton HS in Covington for 21 years, teaching AP Literature and coaching boys' basketball and golf. While there, his state and nationally ranked Rams hoops teams went 308-96 (76%) in his 14 seasons as the head boys' basketball coach, including 5 region titles and 4 trips to the state Final Four. In 2016, he was named the Georgia AAAAAA State Coach of the Year, and in 2018, his 5-star player Ashton Hagans was named Mr. Georgia Basketball and went on to play at the Univ. of Kentucky. Coach Ras currently has three former players who have made it to the NBA or G League and numerous others who have played in college and professionally in the U.S. and overseas. Coach Ras and his family have lived in Oconee County for six years and feel very blessed to be part of the North Oconee Titans family. In his spare time, he loves taking family vacations, playing golf, and helping serve young people in the community. Coach Ras holds a bachelor's degree in English from Washington State University and a master's degree in English Education from the University of Georgia in Athens.