DENVER – The University of Denver Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation and Ritchie Center Operations Karlton Creech announced the hiring of Joonas Rasanen as the Alpine Skiing Head Coach on Thursday.

Rasanen was previously serving as the interim Alpine coach since April and will continue to look to add to the rich history the Pioneers have in the sport, highlighted by 24 National Championships, most by any team in the country.

"I feel very honored to get the chance to coach at the University of Denver and I want to thank Karlton for believing and trusting me with this opportunity," Rasanen said. "I will make him and the whole DU community proud."

Rasanen comes to Denver from the Eldora Mountain Ski and Snowboard Club, serving as the U-16 head Alpine coach for the men's and women's programs. A Finland native, Rasanen won an individual National Championship and a World Championship in slalom during his time at the University of New Mexico.

Rasanen held the single-season men's slalom victories record at New Mexico, winning races at the CU, DU and UNM Invites and the NCAA Championships in 2013. Following graduation, Rasanen returned to Europe where he skied on the World Cup and Europa Cup circuits for five years, competing in the 2015, 2017 and 2019 World Championships.

 "I am extremely excited to start at DU, to be able to work with the best student athletes out there and be part of the greater Pioneer family," Rasanen said. "I had a chance to work with the team in the spring as the interim head coach and it made it clear to me that this is where I belong and what I want to do, I am really excited for what is to come.

 "I am excited about our coaching staff, to be able to work alongside Rogan makes me even more confident about the program and the championships to come."
 
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