2019 NACDA and Affiliates Annual Convention

Forrest Karr
Director of Athletics
Northern Michigan University


Forrest Karr has served as NMU's director of athletics since June 2012. He leads a department with 17 intercollegiate teams, a U.S. Olympic Training Site, and a campus recreation program that engages over 80 percent of the student body. He also teaches MGT 343–Human Resource Management and BUS 595–Labor & Employment Law for NMU's MBA program. Karr is a member of the NCAA DI Concussion Safety Protocol Committee. From 2013-17, he served on the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. As committee chair, Karr led important national initiatives, including the committee's successful efforts to develop, propose and advocate for the adoption of Independent Medical Care legislation, which established the Athletics Health Care Administrator designation and was passed by Divisions I, II and III in 2016 and 2017. He also served on over 100 NCAA drug-testing appeals and worked with NCAA Sports Science Institute staff to develop the IPP Health & Safety component. Karr has also held a variety of conference leadership positions. He chaired the WCHA from 2015-16, the GLIAC from 2013-14 and the CCHA from 2008-09. He previously served as director of athletics for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, worked for Garvey & Stoddard, S.C., and clerked for the NCAA Office of Legal Affairs. Karr earned a law degree from the University of Wisconsin and completed the Sports Management Institute's executive certificate program. Karr played hockey at the University of Notre Dame and received a bachelor’s degree in finance and business economics with a concentration in peace studies. He earned the team’s MVP honor as a senior and was a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection. Karr is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law and the Sports Lawyers Association. His current charitable activities include serving on the board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marquette and Alger Counties and as a member of the National Ski Patrol.

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