Bill Popp became the second commissioner of the Appalachian Athletic Conference on July 1, 2022.

Popp is no stranger to the AAC as he has served as the league's vice president for nearly a decade and has been at member institution Reinhardt, where he served as the athletic director for 17 years before moving into the role of Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics in 2021. During his time at Reinhardt, Popp was named the AAC Athletic Director of the Year four times (2020-21, 2017-18, 2015-16, 2012-13) and was named the NAIA Athletic Director of the Year in 2018 and in 2021.

In 2016-17 and 2021-22, Popp was named NACDA Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year.

Under Popp's leadership, Reinhardt won the 2017-18 AAC Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy for the first time in school history as well (and again in 2020-21); an award established as a way of recognizing member institutions with the most successful all-around sports program for the year.

Popp arrived at Reinhardt in the spring of 2004 to start the University's baseball program and served seven seasons as the Eagles' head baseball coach. He recruited the first class of baseball players for the inaugural 2005 season and oversaw the building of a brand new complex for both baseball and softball. During his time at Reinhardt, the athletic department has doubled the number of sports offerings and has renovated many of the facilities used by the Eagles.

In addition to his service to the AAC and Reinhardt, Popp served on several boards within the NAIA and was the Chair of the National Administrative Counsel (NAC), served as the Chair of the National Drug Testing and Education Committee, and was a member of the NAIA's ADA Board of Directors.