SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Sioux Falls Stampede named Rob Rassey the ninth head coach in franchise history on Thursday, June 23. He replaces Marty Murray, who has been fired after two seasons behind the bench.
The Stampede were 19-37-3-3 and had the second-worst record in the USHL last season after going 18-32-3-1 and having the second-worst record in the USHL in 2020-21. Before getting to Sioux Falls, Murray spent nine seasons as the head coach of the Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League
Rassey, 37, served as the head coach and general manager of the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League from Feb. 2 through the end of the season. During a tumultuous season for the Lancers, Rassey guided them to the Clark Cup playoffs and into the Western Conference semifinals.
Rassey's departure has Omaha seeking yet another head coach. Chadd Cassidy was the head coach and general manager of the Lancers to begin the 2021-22 campaign before he was fired. Sean Walsh was named acting head coach but soon resigned. Gary Graham was interim head coach before new ownership hired Rassey as GM and soon took over behind the bench.
Prior to his time with the Lancers, Rassey served as an amateur scout for the Detroit Red Wings from 2019-2021 where his primary focus was players in the USHL, Minnesota high school, the Big Ten and NCHC college conferences.
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“He understands player development and what we are trying to accomplish here in Sioux Falls," Stampede general manager and vice president of hockey operations Tony Gasparini said in a news release. "We want to help grow players not only individually, but as a team, to get back into the playoffs and compete for our fourth Clark Cup title.”
Rassey has a great deal of USHL experience, including serving as the assistant general manager of the Tri-City Storm during the 2021-22 season before taking the job in Omaha. He was also an assistant coach with the Youngstown Phantoms from 2011-2013 where he helped guide the Phantoms to back-to-back playoff appearances.
From 2013-2019, he served as an assistant coach at Harvard University. One of his many duties included managing and overseeing the power play and penalty kill. The power play finished no lower than sixth overall among all collegiate teams during his tenure.
He played forward for four years at Northeastern University where he received his bachelor of science degree in business administration in 2009. He earned his master’s degree in management from Harvard University in 2019.
“The Stampede are an organization I have always held in the highest regard, and I am looking forward to working with everyone to add to the already rich tradition in Sioux Falls," Rassey said in the news release. "I am thankful to ownership and management for this opportunity, I can’t wait to meet the players and get started.”
Rassey and Gasparini will begin working together immediately as they prepare for the Stampede’s 40-man camp at the end of July. That camp will determine the final roster for Stampede training camp in early September. The Stampede's 62-game regular season schedule begins on Sept. 22 at the USHL Fall Classic in Pittsburgh. The home opener is set for Oct. 15 vs. Fargo.
