Athletics Hall of Fame
Coach Perkins graduated from Dodgeville High School where he earned thirteen letters in athletics. He went on to play intercollegiate football, basketball and baseball at UW-Platteville where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. Forrest continued his education at UW-Madison where he earned his Master's degree. Forrest taught and coached football and baseball at high schools in Fort Atkinson, Merrill and Racine Park. Forrest was named head football coach at UW-Whitewater in 1956. His teams won eleven Wisconsin State University Conference Titles. In 1966 his team finished second in the NAIA championship. His career record at UW-Whitewater was 189-89-7, including 149-58-5 in WSUC play. When he retired as head football coach in 1984, he was the second winningest active NCAA Division III coach, in terms of victories, in the country. He won more football games than any coach in WSUC history. Forrest also coached baseball at UW-W from 1960-65. In that time his squads won two WSUC titles while compiling a .761 overall winning percentage. In 1965 the baseball team played in the NAIA national tournament. "Perk" was a leader in the organization of the Whitewater Quarterback Club, in the beginnings of the Department of Safety Studies and in construction of Warhawk Stadium. Forrest was also the first Chairperson of the Department of Coaching and served as athletic director from 1971-1983. His honors include NAIA Football Coach of the Year in 1966. He also earned the NAIA District 14 Honors in 1966, 1967, and 1978. He was named Madison Pen and Mike Club Sportsman of the Year in 1966. He was elected to the Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (College Division) in 1985. Forrest is currently Stadium Director at UW-Whitewater. He and his wife, Eleanore, reside in Whitewater. They have four children, Mike, Mary Beth, Pete and John Jay.
