Bio

After serving as Senior Associate Athletic Director since 2011, Brad Chappell was named Director of Athletics at Bethel in June 2022.

During his tenure Chappell has overseen all facets of a department that includes 53 coaches, administrative and support staff as well as more than 750 student-athletes. He has direct supervision of budgets, business operations, scholarships and athletic facilities. Most recently he oversaw renovations to Gaines Pool.

In addition to his experience at Bethel, he also acted as vice president of the TranSouth Conference. During Bethel's membership in the Southern States Athletic Conference he served as the sport chair for softball and soccer and was a member of the SSAC strategic planning committee. In Bethel's current league, the Mid-South Conference, he has served on the oversight, competition and football committees. Chappell also serves as the liaison to Champions of Character, an NAIA initiative. Bethel has been named a five-star Champions of Character institution each year since his arrival and has earned gold status the last seven years. Under his guidance BU student athletes have logged more than 30,000 hours of community service.

During his tenure in athletics, the department has continued its commitment to academic excellence. Numerous Bethel scholar-athletes and teams have received academic recognition at the conference and national levels.

Since his arrival, the athletic department has won conference championships in football, women's basketball, tennis, golf, volleyball, cross country and baseball, and national titles in bass fishing, shooting, archery and inline hockey. In 2013, Bethel University's athletic department was awarded the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors' Cup for the TranSouth Conference.

Chappell has served in various civic capacities including as a member of the McKenzie Parks and Recreation board and a population task force serving the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed by the governor to serve on the Carroll County Watershed Authority.

Chappell has been married to his wife Christie for 31 years. They have four children – Nick, Jake, Allie and Drew. Prior to arriving at Bethel, Chappell served in the Tennessee public school system for 15 years as a teacher and coach. He has taught all levels between fourth grade and college seniors in various subjects. His coaching experience is extensive, covering a number of sports but primarily focused on middle and high school football.