Todd Appel '92/M'02

Todd Appel ’92/M’02 was inducted into the Maryland Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Class of 2023, for his exceptional coaching career. He was named head football coach at Fort Hill High School in 2008, a position he held for 12 seasons. During his tenure at Fort Hill, Appel had a career record of 142-16, which included five state titles.

Since Appel had been the head coach at Fort Hill, plus the two seasons prior, the Sentinels reached the Class 1A West Region Final every year since 2006. Before the 2019 season, Fort Hill had appeared in six consecutive state championship games, setting an MPSSAA record. In total, Appel was part of 13 of the school’s 14 state championship appearances – seven as the head coach, five as an assistant and one as a player.

“It was a true privilege to be able to coach at Fort Hill for 27 years. It was something that I never considered a job but an absolute honor,” said Appel. “I would like to thank all my family for supporting me over the years. My daughter, Harper, my son, Walker, and especially my beautiful wife of 27 years, Suzanne. They have had to sacrifice many things that most families don’t have to, due to the time commitment. Not only did they sacrifice but went well above the call of duty to support their father and husband. I also give thanks to my mother and father who guided me towards my dreams.”

Coach Appel also credits all of the coaches that he coached with and under, especially Mike Calhoun and Barry Latimer.

“I would like to especially thank all the players that I have had the privilege to coach in the 27 years at Fort Hill. Without players, honors like this do not happen. I appreciate all of them and all they did to serve Fort Hill High School and the tradition that looms heavy over their heads while they prepared and played,” said Appel. “We, as a group, truly wanted to make sure that we upheld those traditions as well as honored God. Hopefully we did both. We truly wanted to give to Fort Hill the things it had given us.”

“Frostburg State was a great building block to my future, and the people that mentored me there were outstanding people who allowed me to attain the skills to teach and coach,” recalls Appel. “Frostburg State was a great landing place for me when I needed to be close to home. It proves you don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to receive quality education or be involved in high-level athletics to accomplish your goals.”

After retiring from coaching in 2020, Appel moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he teaches elementary school in Worcester County.