Forrest Karr returns for his seventh year with the Nanooks. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School in May 2004, Karr worked for one year as compliance officer before beginning his tenure as director of athletics and campus recreation.
Under Karr’s guidance, the Nanooks have crowned five NCAA champions, including three national titles for the rifle team in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and individual titles for Marius Korthauer at the 2008 NCAA Skiing Championships and Patrik Sartz at the 2008 NCAA Rifle Championships.
In addition, the Nanook ski team won the 2006 Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) Championship, the department set an NCAA attendance record while hosting the 2007 NCAA Rifle Championships, skier Einar Often was the male recipient of the 2008 NCAA Division II Sportsmanship Award, and the Nanook hockey team participated in the 2010 NCAA Division I tournament for the first time in program history.
Karr also implemented the Nanook women's swimming program in 2005, worked with the Fairbanks North Star Borough to secure a four-sided center-hung scoreboard at the Carlson Center in 2006, oversaw renovation of the E.F. Horton rifle range in addition to obtaining funds that resulted in a rock-climbing wall at the Student Recreation Center in 2007, and started the Nanook Hall of Fame in 2008.
During the past few years, Karr has chaired the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee (2008-10), the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Management Council (2009), and the Statewide Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska (2009), where he led the agency through the process of hiring a CEO.
In 2006, he received the “Chancellor's Supervisory Award,” presented to a staff member for excellence and contributions to UAF. Karr is also a member of the National Ski Patrol and received the 2006 Outstanding Rookie Patroller award for the State of Alaska.
In 2007, Karr partnered with the UAF School of Management to develop a Minor in Sport Management program. He teaches BA 491 - Sport Marketing, BA 281 - Sport Management, and BA 467 - Legal Issues in Sport & Recreation Management.
In 2008, Karr was named Big Brother of the Year in Fairbanks.
In 2010, Karr was named one of Alaska’s “Top 40 Under 40” by the Alaska Journal of Commerce.
Karr's previous work experience includes clerking for a private law firm, Garvey & Stoddard, S.C., as well as interning in the NCAA General Counsel's office.
Karr was a student-athlete (hockey) from 1996-99 at the University of Notre Dame and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor's of Business Administration in Finance and Business Economics.
A four year letter-winner as goaltender for the Fighting Irish, Karr earned most valuable player honors his senior season. In recognition of classroom excellence, Karr was named to the CCHA All-Academic Team and was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Second Team.
After his collegiate career, Karr played one year of minor league (ECHL) professional hockey and then coached with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Karr’s interests include running, hiking, curling, mountaineering and all types of skiing. He has participated in six marathons, including Fairbanks' own Equinox Marathon three times.
In the spring of 2000, Karr and a friend bicycled from Juarez, Mexico to Carway, Alberta.
Karr and his wife Cara have a daughter named Callia.
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