The University of Minnesota Duluth has announced the hiring of Forrest Karr as the new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Karr will oversee the University of Minnesota Duluth’s athletic department and its 16 NCAA programs (14 at the NCAA Division II level and two at the NCAA Division I level) that have combined to win 10 team national championships, nine individual national titles and six men’s hockey Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (the most in college hockey).
“I am grateful to President Gabel, Chancellor McMillan and Chancellor Black, as well as Dr. Steve Castleberry, Karen Stromme and the entire search committee for this incredible opportunity to join Bulldog Country. UMD is a highly respected university with national championship level success. I look forward to creating value to help UMD coaches and staff pursue their goals, and finding creative ways to provide a high-quality academic and athletic experience for student-athletes.”
ABOUT FORREST KARR
Forrest brings to UMD more than 20 years of experience working in collegiate athletics (17 as an athletic director). Since 2012, he has served as the director of athletics at Northern Michigan University (NMU) overseeing 18 intercollegiate programs, a national training site, and a comprehensive recreation program that services the community and student body.
During his time at NMU, Karr started five NCAA Division II programs (women’s golf, men’s swimming and diving, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, and women's wrestling). In addition, NMU student-athletes earned 145 All-America honors, 127 Honorable Mention All-America awards, six CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, and five individual NCAA championships. Since 2021, four NMU teams have claimed conference championships, and four more teams have finished as conference championship runner-up. Karr has also hired many successful coaches at NMU, including 2022 CCSA men's Nordic ski coach of the year, 2021 GLIAC volleyball coach of the year, 2016 and 2018 GLIAC men's swimming and diving coach of the year, 2018 WCHA men's hockey coach of the year, and 2018 GLIAC women's outdoor track and field coach of the year.
The former Notre Dame men's hockey student-athlete standout has also overseen many significant facilities projects impacting all of NMU's intercollegiate and national training site programs. In addition, Karr initiated two strategic plans and led the department through a rebranding process. He also initiated a licensing partnership, helped establish seven new endowed scholarships, and secured partnerships with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, USA Wrestling, and USA Weightlifting.
ABOUT FORREST KARR
Karr has also been highly involved in shaping student-athlete health, safety and wellness policy and best practice guidelines on a national level. Recently, he served on the NCAA Board of Governors appointed Campus Sexual Violence Implementation Task Force and has been a member of the NCAA Drug Test Appeal Subcommittee since 2013. Karr chaired the association-wide NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports from 2015-17 and also served on the NCAA Division I Concussion Safety Protocol Committee for non-autonomy institutions from 2015-19. In addition, he chaired the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee from 2008-10. Karr has also served in various conference leadership positions chairing the WCHA Management Council from 2015-16, the GLIAC Management Council from 2013-14, and the CCHA Management Council from 2008-09 and again from 2020-22.
Karr is a frequent speaker on sports-related legal topics. He has served as a moderator or panelist for the Sports Lawyers Association (SLA), NCAA Convention, State Bar of Michigan Bench Bar Conference, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute, NCAA Regional Rules Seminar, National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University Law School, Faculty Athletics Representatives Association (FARA) Annual Meeting, American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Convention, University of Wisconsin Law School and many others.
ABOUT FORREST KARR
Previously, Karr served as director of athletics and campus recreation for the University of Alaska Fairbanks. During his tenure, Nanook student-athletes won three team NCAA championships and also three individual NCAA championships. In addition, the university set an NCAA attendance record while hosting the 2007 NCAA Rifle Championships and a student-athlete was selected as the male Division II winner of the 2008 NCAA Sportsmanship Award.
Karr is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Finance and Business Economics from the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame along with a Concentration in Peace Studies from the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. He is also a graduate of the Sports Management Institute's executive education program.
Forrest and his wife Cara have two daughters, Callia and Colette.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT FORREST:
“Forrest clerked in the NCAA General Counsel's office in 2003. We saw, then, his potential to become a leader in college athletics, and he has hit that mark. We continue to work together through various NCAA committees and task force service. I especially appreciate Forrest's commitment to the student-athlete through his national leadership on important NCAA policy issues, particularly in the areas of health and safety.” - Scott Bearby, JD, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT FORREST:
“I've had the pleasure of calling Forrest Karr a colleague throughout most of my career in college athletics. His success as an athletic director stems from his devotion to creating a positive environment for all student-athletes. Forrest's emphasis on the importance of diversity and inclusion has led to innovative discussion and educational opportunities for all GLIAC members. We have been fortunate to benefit from Forrest's leadership in the GLIAC, which has resulted in the overall enhancement of the student-athlete experience. The NSIC, WCHA and NCHC are gaining a great leader in their respective conferences.” - Kris Dunbar, Commissioner, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT FORREST:
“Forrest has been a thoughtful and steady leader at Northern Michigan, and has helped pave the way for the new CCHA. I have come to appreciate his broad perspective, always keeping the student-athlete experience at the forefront, focusing on the comprehensive impact we can have on their lives and our communities. His high integrity and strong character have served him and others well, and I’m certain that all those associated with Bulldog Athletics will flourish with Forrest guiding the ship.” - Phil Esten, PhD, Vice President & Director of Athletics, University of St. Thomas
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT FORREST:
“Forrest Karr is the model for what a modern Athletics Director should be—he is thoughtful, brilliant, innovative, and a passionate advocate for college athletes and college athletics. Forrest is the ideal person to help lead UMD through an unprecedented time of change in college athletics. Congratulations to Forrest and UMD. Their futures are very bright.” - Gabe Feldman, JD, Sher Garner Professor of Sports Law - Tulane Law School, Director - Tulane Sports Law Program, Co-Founder and Co-Director - Tulane Center for Sport, Associate Provost for NCAA Compliance at Tulane University
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT FORREST:
“Forrest gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach, and together we brought a conference championship to Northern Michigan Volleyball. I truly loved working side by side with him over the past five years. I have every expectation that he will bring the same competitive drive and leadership to the University of Minnesota Duluth Athletic Department. I wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter.” - Mike Lozier, Head Volleyball Coach, Northern Michigan University
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT FORREST:
“Forrest Karr is one of the top leaders in college athletics! In a rapidly changing sports landscape — where everything seems to be in flux, I can think of no one who better understands what really matters than Forrest. He prioritizes the meaningful intersection of athletics and academics. Forrest is a values-based leader who always places student-athletes first. I deeply admire and respect Forrest. What a perfect choice by the University of Minnesota Duluth. Congratulations, Forrest — and Go Bulldogs!" - Peter Miller, PhD, Professor in Sports Leadership - University of Wisconsin–Madison, Faculty Athletics Representative and Athletic Board Chair - University of Wisconsin–Madison, Co-Chair, Big Ten Joint Group Executive Committee
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT FORREST:
"Forrest Karr has a breadth of experience at the Division I and II levels, consistently navigating change with a steady and principled hand. He brings a thoughtful voice to UMD and the NCHC as we continue to position ourselves as a national leader in collegiate men's hockey. We are excited to welcome Forrest to the NCHC family!" -Heather Weems, Commissioner, National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC)