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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Hall of Fame

(COPY SCAN / the Omaha World-Herald) L to R; T to B: Maurtice Ivy, Bill Jackman, Billy Southworth, John R. Rhodes, Paul Tierney, Ron Kellogg, Karlene Erickson, Kerry Trotter, Paul Forch

Paul Forch

  • Class
    1958
  • Induction
    1992
  • Sport(s)
    Football, Basketball, Track & Field, Coaching

Recognition: Athlete/Coach

Paul “Bernie” Forch was a three-sport athlete for the Antelopes in the 1950's and went on to be one of the most successful prep basketball coaches in Nebraska. An all-stater from Stratton, he competed in basketball, football and track for Kearney State before graduating in 1958. Paul Forch

As head basketball coach at McCook High School from 1962-67, his teams won four West Big Ten championships and were the 1965 Class B state runners up. In 1967 he was named the first-ever basketball coach at Lincoln East High School. For the Spartans, his teams won the 1971 and 1978 state titles and were state runners up on four occasions. Coaching an up-tempo and fast-paced style, Forch led the program for 28 seasons and reached the Class A state tourney 13 times. 

He was named the Lincoln Journal State Coach of the Year in 1971 and, in 1990, became one of the first coaches to reaches the 400-win milestone. Finally, Forch is a member of the NSAA Hall of Fame. 
 

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