Brent Appel serves as NAU’s Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Medicine, a role he has held since September 2026.

In his current role, Appel will provide leadership and oversight of NAU’s sports medicine, sport psychology, strength and conditioning and nutrition teams, while working to create practical, innovative and integrated approaches to optimizing health, performance and overall outcomes of the department’s student-athletes.

Appel returns to the NAU Athletic Department after previously working on the sports medicine team from 2013-21. During his first stint at NAU, Appel rose from Assistant Athletic Trainer to Assistant Director of Sports Medicine, primarily working with women’s basketball (2013-18) and football (2018-21).

Previous to returning to NAU, Appel served as facility administrator with DaVita in Tuba City, Ariz. In that role, Appel directed daily operations of the dialysis facility, overseeing clinical outcomes, financial management and compliance with CMS, state and federal health regulations. He also served as a certified athletic trainer and physician extender at Flagstaff Bone and Joint in between his stints at NAU.

Appel’s early career stops in intercollegiate athletics include Fort Lewis College (2012-13) as an assistant athletic trainer for men’s soccer and men’s basketball, Utah State as a graduate assistant with the cross country, track & field and football programs, and Iowa State as an undergraduate student athletic trainer with women’s tennis, women’s volleyball and football.

Appel also has clinical experience with the Winter and Summer X-Games and Interscholastic Arizona Cycling League as part of the medical staff for over a decade.

Originally from Iowa, Appel earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and health from Iowa State in 2010 and his master’s degree in health and human movement from Utah State in 2012. He is a BOC Certified Athletic Trainer and Arizona Licensed Athletic Trainer. Appel also holds certifications from American Red Cross (CPR/AED), NASM (Corrective Exercise Specialist) and Institute of Physical Art (Functional Manual Therapy).

Appel resides in Flagstaff with his wife, Emily, son, Max, and daughter, Olive.