Forrest, 43, enters his first season as assistant coach for the Crunch after previously spending the last four years as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Under his leadership, the Penguins amassed a 113-102-24-13 record and reached the Calder Cup Playoffs two of the three years that the postseason was held. He spent the four previous years as an assistant coach for Wilkes- Barre/Scranton. 

Prior to joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Forrest spent the 2015-16 season coaching the U-20 team for EC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2014-15 winning gold with the team at the IIHF U18 World Junior Championship. Forrest additionally served on the U.S. coaching staff at the 2017 and 2021 Hlinka- Gretzky Cup. 

A native of Auburn, NY, Forrest skated in 417 games during his nine-year professional career as a defenseman. Between 2004 and 2014, he spent time with SaiPa (SM-Liiga), Assat (SM-Liiga), Florida (ECHL), Albany (AHL), Elmira (ECHL), Worcester (AHL), Karpat (SM-Liiga), Kloten HC (Swiss), Jokerit (SM-Liiga), Malmo (Swe) and Augsburg (DEL). He attended Boston College from 2000 to 2004 where he posted 97 points (24g, 73a) in 144 games and led defensemen in goals all four years. The team won the NCAA Championship during his freshman season and were Hockey East regular season champions during his senior season. Forrest was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round, 181st overall, at the 2000 NHL Draft.