Kristen Rasmussen Tarr joins the Simmons Athletics staff as Head Basketball Coach for the 2011-12 season. Coach Rasmussen Tarr joins the Sharks after an accomplished eleven-year career in the WNBA, FIBA and WNBL professional leagues.

"Kristen is a world class professional basketball player and I am truly excited to have Kristen join our staff," said Director of Athletics Ali Kantor. "She brings a wealth of basketball knowledge from the highest level possible. She is a proven leader who demonstrates passion and a love of the game, a competitive drive and a will to win. In addition she demonstrates a compassion for teaching and women's athletics. I have no doubt Kristen will lead Simmons basketball to success."

During her professional career, Rasmussen Tarr played for eight teams and started for five. While with the Phoenix Mercury, she led in field goal percentage (51.2%), rebounding (136) and blocks (27), and marked a single game high of five made 3-point shots. She tallied 82.5% in career free throw percentage.

Rasmussen Tarr was previously an Assistant Coach for the Division II women's basketball program at Western State College in Colorado, where she assisted with practice coordination and planning, game day coaching and individual position coaching. She also handled the college's facility scheduling and operations, and implemented a weights and workout schedule.

Rasmussen Tarr graduated from Michigan State University in 2000 with a bachelor of science in kinesiology. While at MSU, Rasmussen Tarr was a four-year starter and three-year captain for the Spartans, and helped lead her team to several NCAA and NIT Championship appearances. She is the No. 2 all-time shot blocker and No. 9 all-time scorer (1035 points). She held the record for blocked shots (194) for 10 years until it was broken in 2010. As a senior, Rasmussen Tarr was named First Team All-Big Ten conference in rebounding (9.8 pg.), blocked shots (1.84 pg.) and double doubles (16). To cap the year, she was voted team MVP, and was nominated for the NCAA Outstanding Sportsperson of the Year. She has since served as a player and development coach for the Spartans.

Rasmussen Tarr was inducted to the Lansing, Mich. Hall of Fame in 2009. She was the first player from Michigan State University to play in the WNBA after being drafted in the fourth round in 2000.