Former Notre Dame goaltender Forrest Karr named director of athletics at Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska – Former Notre Dame goaltending standout Forrest Karr `99 has been named the Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He had served as the school’s interim director of athletics since and campus recreation since July 22, 2005. He replaces Dr. Cory Schwartz who resigned on July 20 2005.

In making the announcement, Jake Poole, Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Community Engagement said, “I am very pleased with the direction Forrest has taken the department in the past months. I look forward to working with him and his strong team of coaches, staff, student-athletes, community supporters and boosters as we continue to build a strong and successful department.”

Karr joined the UAF staff after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School in May 2004, as the Athletic Academic Coordinator overseeing NCAA compliance activities for the athletic department. He also has experience as a law clerk, having worked for a the private firm, Garvey and Stoddart, S.C., in addition to serving the NCAA, conducting research and writing memoranda covering topics such as drug-testing protocol revisions, trademark infringements, and website privacy policies. While working for the NCAA, Karr also worked with outside counsel, defending NCAA Academic standards for incoming freshmen.

“After spending time learning about the challenges, I’ve been given an opportunity to work in a position I consider to be the best job in Fairbanks,” said Karr. “I’m continually amazed by the passion of UAF fans and I truly appreciate the community’s support of UAF athletics.”

Since Karr was named interim athletic director in August, he has played an integral role in filling vacant positions within the department to complete the administrative and coaching staffs, including an assistant athletic director of marketing and promotions, a sports information director, an administrative assistant, and an assistant swim coach.

“We have assembled a great staff that works hard and supports one another. We will continue to enhance the student-athlete experience, while increasing the graduation rate of our student-athletes. We will adhere to the letter and the spirit of the NCAA rules and maintain our national competitiveness,” said Karr.

Prior to attending law school, Karr graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s of business administration in finance and business economics from Notre Dame in 1999. While at Notre Dame, Karr was a member of the Fighting Irish hockey team from 1995-99 where he played for former coach Dave Poulin, now the special assistant to the Senior Associate Athletic Director

“I’m tremendously proud of Forrest being named athletics director at Alaska Fairbanks, but I am not surprised at all. The quality of person and player he was for me at Notre Dame is what makes college hockey great. He bided his time here, worked hard and prepared for his opportunity and when he got it, he helped take our program to a different level,” said Poulin.

“Forrest was in it for the long term and it was always about the program and what he could do to make it better. I knew that whatever Forrest Karr was going to do, he was going to do it well, extremely professionally and with a tremendous amount of class.”

A native of DeForest, Wis., Karr played in 62 games during his Notre Dame career, turning in a 27-25-6 record with a 2.92 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage. In the Notre Dame record books, he ranks second in career goals-against average (2.92), fourth in save percentage (.888), 10th in minutes played (3,312:24) and is tied for fifth in shutouts (2). His best season came in 1998-99 when he was 19-14-5 overall with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage as he led the Irish to their first winning season since 1990-91 and a fourth-place finish in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

A four-year letter winner with the Irish, Karr earned the team’s most valuable player honors in 1998-99. Off the ice, he received recognition for his excellence in the classroom by being named to the CCHA all-academic team and was a second team CoSida Academic All-American in 1999. After his collegiate career, Karr played one year of professional hockey with Jacksonville and South Carolina of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and then spent one season as a coach with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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