Rose's first major victory came in the NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship in 1974, competing for Western Kentucky University. He successfully made the progression to professional athletics, running the fastest indoor 3000 metres time of any athlete in 1978.[5] He was the national champion in the 10,000 metres in 1980.[6]
He ran in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships twice. He made his first appearance in 1979 where he finished 21st and was a member of the winning English team. He returned the following year and this time took the bronze in the individual event and led the English team to an overall victory.[7]