Stancil Selected as AAC Interim Commissioner

CORBIN, Ky. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Executive Committee of the Council of Presidents has named Jay Stancil as the Interim Commissioner of the AAC, effective Monday, August 3.

Stancil assumes the position following the departure of Bill Popp, who recently accepted the role of Commissioner of the Gulf South Conference.

"Jay has dedicated many years of exemplary service to the conference and brings a great wealth of knowledge and experience to this interim role," said Dr. Paul Maurer, chair of the AAC Council of Presidents. "The Council of Presidents is confident in his ability to lead the conference through this period."

Stancil recently completed his 16th year with the AAC and his fourth as a full-time staff member. He began as the Conference Sports Information Director in 2010 and was elevated to the position of Assistant Commissioner for Championships and Information. In July 2022, he became a full-time member of the conference staff.

In addition to serving the AAC, Stancil was the Director of Strategic Sports Communications for member institution Union Commonwealth University from 1999-2022, earning the Willie Belcher AAC SID of the Year Award three times and the NAIA Clarence "Ike" Pearson Award in 2010. In 2022, Stancil received the Warren Berg Award from College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly known as CoSIDA), which is presented annually to a CSC College Division member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of sports information and who, by his or her activities, has brought dignity and prestige to the profession. CSC honored Stancil with a 25-Year Award in 2024.

Stancil was a member of the NAIA National Administrative Council (NAC) from 2011-14 and was recently appointed to a new term on the NAC. He also serves on the NAIA-Council of Student Athletes (CSA).

"I am truly honored to be entrusted with the role of Interim Commissioner during this transition period for our conference," commented Stancil. "I've had the privilege of working with the conference's two commissioners – John Sullivan and Bill Popp – and both have served as mentors of mine, preparing me for an opportunity such as this. I am also grateful for Dr. Maurer and the Executive Committee for their confidence."

Comprehensive Athletics Consulting has been chosen to lead the process to identify the next commissioner of the AAC.