TEAM | Chicago North Shore

COACHING STAFF

Joey Rasmus

Head Coach

Joey Rasmus joined Chicago North Shore at the start of the Spring 2022 WPL Season. In his decade plus coaching career, Rasmus has developed a passion for supporting high-performance ruggers to reach their goals on and off the pitch. Most recently, Rasmus has helped the University of Illinois men return to prominence in the D1A Era as well as build the budding new development-focused high-performance organization, Silverbacks Elite Rugby. He is a USA Rugby Level 300 Coach. Rasmus strives to cultivate a team environment where players are fulfilled, enriched, and empowered to showcase their individual and collective strengths.

Rasmus was inspired to take up coaching by his college coach, Johnathan Atkeison. After a playing and coaching stint with New York Rugby Club, he had the opportunity to spend a season playing First Grade rugby in the Brisbane Premiership with the Wests Bulldogs and coaching at Brisbane Boys College. Though his playing season would be cut short due to injury, Rasmus had an invaluable opportunity to learn from BBC coaches Stephen Philpotts, Shane Drahm, Elwee Prinsloo, Van Humphries, as well as guest coaches from the Queensland Reds. The education and mentorship he received in Australia heavily shapes his coaching and playing philosophies.

Start a conversation with Joey about coaching, player development, or recruitment by emailing him at: jrasmus@northshorerugby.com.

Noby Takaki

Assistant Coach

While in undergrad at UIC, Noby joined North Shore for 7s in 2000 and has been a part of the organization ever since. With 20 years of experience in the tight five, Noby is pivoting from player to tight five specialist and has joined the North Shore coaching staff in 2021. Noby strives to bring development and growth to the tight five with her extensive experience playing in multiple USA Rugby championship series, including the 2011 Division 1 Championship, as well as appearances at regional and national level Eagle camps. We are excited to have Noby on the coaching staff not just for her rugby credentials but also for her leadership and history with the club.

Noby is a USA Rugby Level 200 Coach as well as a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Outside of rugby, Noby is Vice President of Wellness for a Real Estate Investment firm based in Chicago.