Karr accepts new position, Nanooks to launch AD search
May 30, 2012
907-474-7902
5/30/12
Alaska Nanooks athletics director Forrest Karr announced his resignation Wednesday to accept a leadership position at Northern Michigan University.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks plans to appoint an interim athletics director to lead the Nanooks after Karr’s departure on June 9, and then launch a national search for a permanent replacement.
“Forrest has served UAF and the Fairbanks community well,” said UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers. “While we are sorry to see him go, we are happy for him and wish him the best in his new position.”
Karr will begin his new job as Director of Athletics, Recreational Sports and the United States Olympic Education Center/Special Assistant to the President on Monday, June 11.
A native of Madison, Wis., Karr has served as the UAF athletics director since the summer of 2005. Since then, the Nanooks have captured three team and three individual NCAA titles. Also during his tenure, the department set an NCAA attendance record while hosting the 2007 NCAA Rifle Championships, the hockey team participated in the 2010 NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time and the women’s cross-country team competed in the 2011 NCAA DII championships for the first time.
In addition to athletic accomplishments, Karr’s tenure was marked by the academic strength of UAF’s student-athletes. Since he arrived, the Nanooks have garnered five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and the department has achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or higher during each of the last four years.
“I'm grateful to my friends, co-workers and the many Nanook supporters who have made the last eight years in Fairbanks so memorable. I have always considered it a privilege to work for the University of Alaska Fairbanks,” Karr said. “While Alaska is a remarkable place, and it’s difficult to leave people I love working with, moving on to a new position and another great community closer to family is very exciting.”
While leading the Nanooks, Karr supervised the addition of a women’s swimming program, established a hall of fame to honor alumni and supporters, oversaw several facilities renovation and construction projects, and developed an academic minor in sports management. He was UAF’s assistant athletic director for compliance prior to becoming athletics director. From 2008-10, he chaired the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee and previously clerked in the NCAA General Counsel’s Office.
Karr also chaired the statewide board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska in 2009, where he led the agency through the process of hiring a CEO. He has served as a member of the National Ski Patrol for six years and co-chaired the 2010 United Way of the Tanana Valley’s fundraising campaign.
A University of Notre Dame alumnus, Karr was a goalie for the Fighting Irish hockey team and was an Academic All-American and the team’s most valuable player as a senior. He graduated from Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and completed a law degree at the University of Wisconsin. He is also a graduate of the Sports Management Institute’s executive certificate program.
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