Brooke Rasnick Joins Track & Field Coaching Staff
July 28, 2023 | Track & Field
Rasnick returns to Louisville after coaching the Cardinals’ pole vaulters from 2013-22.
Brooke Rasnick has been named to the University of Louisville track and field program as an assistant coach specializing in the pole vault, as announced by director of track and field/cross country Joe Franklin.
"We are so excited to welcome Brooke back to the Cardinal family," said Franklin. "She has proven to be one of the best vault coaches in the world and we are excited to see her mentor our men and women to more success in the future."
Rasnick previously spent nine years (2013-22) with the Cardinals as an assistant coach working with the pole vault and multi event groups, turning Louisville's pole vault program into a national powerhouse.
"I'm grateful Coach Franklin has given me the opportunity to return to the University of Louisville," said Rasnick. "There has been a great history of pole vaulters at UofL with high character, talent and grit. I can't wait to lead this group again and build on the past success."
Rasnick spent the last year working with Elevate Athletic Recruiting, a company she founded that provides online courses, live seminars, and individual/team consultations for coaches, parents, and student athletes that revolve around the world of recruiting in collegiate track and field. She also continued to provide coaching services for local pole vaulters throughout the year to aid in their athletic development.
During her first stint with the Cardinals, Rasnick coached her athletes to an individual national championship, 12 NCAA All-American performances, five individual ACC championships, 52 All-ACC nods, and eight new school records.
The 2022 outdoor season saw Rasnick coach Gabriela Leon to a national title in the women's pole vault to cap off her collegiate career by becoming the first female outdoor national champion in program history. With Leon's victory, Rasnick became one of two female coaches to guide a Division I national champion in the pole vault.
Leon became one of Louisville's most decorated athletes under Rasnick's tutelage, earning multiple awards at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season including the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Outdoor Women's Field Athlete of the Year, the ACC Outdoor Women's Field Performer of the Year, the ACC Track & Field Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, and was also one of the ACC's nominees for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Rasnick's athletes also found success at the national level with Leon and Aliyah Welter both qualifying for the 2022 USATF Outdoor Championships in the women's pole vault while Ty McPhail earned a bid to the 2022 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in the men's pole vault. After placing fourth at the national meet, Leon qualified for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore. where she placed 12th in the world in the pole vault.
Before coming to the Ville in 2013, Rasnick served as an assistant coach at Kent State University from 2010-13, while helping the women's team to five Mid-American Conference titles and mentoring 13 all-conference performers. She also led Kim Preston to the 2012 indoor pole vault conference title as well as the No. 2 indoor and outdoor pole vault marks in school history.
Rasnick began her coaching career in 2010 at the University of Oregon where she helped Melissa Gergel to a pair of All-American honors in the pole vault, including a second-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The El Dorado, Kan. native earned a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University in 2009 where she was also a four-year member of the Shockers' track and field team. While competing with Wichita State, Rasnick was a two-time NCAA Championships qualifier and four-time NCAA Preliminaries qualifier in the pole vault. She won the 2005 Missouri Valley Conference pole vault title while also being honored as a seven-time All-MVC selection.
Rasnick also holds a master's degree which she earned in 2014 from Kent State University.
"We are so excited to welcome Brooke back to the Cardinal family," said Franklin. "She has proven to be one of the best vault coaches in the world and we are excited to see her mentor our men and women to more success in the future."
Rasnick previously spent nine years (2013-22) with the Cardinals as an assistant coach working with the pole vault and multi event groups, turning Louisville's pole vault program into a national powerhouse.
"I'm grateful Coach Franklin has given me the opportunity to return to the University of Louisville," said Rasnick. "There has been a great history of pole vaulters at UofL with high character, talent and grit. I can't wait to lead this group again and build on the past success."
Rasnick spent the last year working with Elevate Athletic Recruiting, a company she founded that provides online courses, live seminars, and individual/team consultations for coaches, parents, and student athletes that revolve around the world of recruiting in collegiate track and field. She also continued to provide coaching services for local pole vaulters throughout the year to aid in their athletic development.
During her first stint with the Cardinals, Rasnick coached her athletes to an individual national championship, 12 NCAA All-American performances, five individual ACC championships, 52 All-ACC nods, and eight new school records.
The 2022 outdoor season saw Rasnick coach Gabriela Leon to a national title in the women's pole vault to cap off her collegiate career by becoming the first female outdoor national champion in program history. With Leon's victory, Rasnick became one of two female coaches to guide a Division I national champion in the pole vault.
Leon became one of Louisville's most decorated athletes under Rasnick's tutelage, earning multiple awards at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season including the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Outdoor Women's Field Athlete of the Year, the ACC Outdoor Women's Field Performer of the Year, the ACC Track & Field Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, and was also one of the ACC's nominees for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Rasnick's athletes also found success at the national level with Leon and Aliyah Welter both qualifying for the 2022 USATF Outdoor Championships in the women's pole vault while Ty McPhail earned a bid to the 2022 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in the men's pole vault. After placing fourth at the national meet, Leon qualified for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore. where she placed 12th in the world in the pole vault.
Before coming to the Ville in 2013, Rasnick served as an assistant coach at Kent State University from 2010-13, while helping the women's team to five Mid-American Conference titles and mentoring 13 all-conference performers. She also led Kim Preston to the 2012 indoor pole vault conference title as well as the No. 2 indoor and outdoor pole vault marks in school history.
Rasnick began her coaching career in 2010 at the University of Oregon where she helped Melissa Gergel to a pair of All-American honors in the pole vault, including a second-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The El Dorado, Kan. native earned a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University in 2009 where she was also a four-year member of the Shockers' track and field team. While competing with Wichita State, Rasnick was a two-time NCAA Championships qualifier and four-time NCAA Preliminaries qualifier in the pole vault. She won the 2005 Missouri Valley Conference pole vault title while also being honored as a seven-time All-MVC selection.
Rasnick also holds a master's degree which she earned in 2014 from Kent State University.
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