Alexander Thomas McDaniel

Dr. Alexander McDaniel, a native of Florida, began his professional career in athletics as a competitive indoor and beach volleyball athlete. Over a seven-year span, he competed on both the Bud Light Volleyball Tour and the California Beach Volleyball Association Tour, participating in tournaments throughout Florida and California.

Following a career-ending injury sustained during competition, Dr. McDaniel redirected his professional focus toward athletic training and rehabilitation, drawing inspiration from his own recovery experience. This transition cultivated a strong interest in human performance optimization, injury prevention, and evidence-based rehabilitation practices. He earned a Master of Health Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine in 2013 and subsequently completed a Doctor of Health Science degree at Nova Southeastern University in 2018.

Throughout his career, Dr. McDaniel has served as an athletic trainer at the Division I collegiate level and at Hoggard High School. In addition to owning and operating a human performance rehabilitation facility and sports medicine outreach company, he currently serves as an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator within the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences at University.

Dr. McDaniel’s research agenda is centered on translational and interdisciplinary approaches to human performance, injury risk mitigation, neuromusculoskeletal rehabilitation, and biomedical technology innovation. His scholarship integrates wearable technologies, biomechanical assessment systems, neurophysiological monitoring, and artificial intelligence applications to advance concussion assessment, military and athletic performance optimization, sleep and recovery science, and personalized health interventions.

Education

DHSc, Doctorate of Health Science, Nova Southeastern University
MHSc, Masters of Health Science Concentration in Sports Medicine, Nova Southeastern University
BS, Athletic Training, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Specialization in Teaching

Anatomy & Physiology, Musculoskeletal Evaluation & Rehabilitation, Leadership & Entrepreneurship

Research Interests

Biomedical Device Research, H2F - Military Health, Resilience, & Readiness, TBI - Brain Health, Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention, Female Hormone Health

Professional Service

Professional Service - National Strength & Conditioning Association - North Carolina Advisory Board Member

Community Engagement

Supporting - The Honor Foundation
Veteran's Fitness Expo
Other Community Service Initiatives - Ocean Rescue, Firefighters & First Responders, Military and National Guard H2F

Honors & Awards

2017 Discere Aude - Dare to Learn Teaching Mentorship Award
2025 Discere Aude - Dare to Learn Teaching Mentorship Award
2025 CHHS Distinguished Research Speaker
2026 UNCW Distinguished Faculty Scholar
2026 THF Distinguished Guest Speaker