Scott Sidwell has been hired as the University of San Francisco’s new athletic director. He
was most recently the executive senior associate athletic director at Syracuse
University.
Sidwell, who begins work at USF in early June after a
nationwide search, has headed external operations and directed Syracuse
athletics marketing, communications, ticket sales, and media properties efforts
since 2008.
Meet the New Athletic Director Scott Sidwell will be introduced to USF personnel, alumni, fans,
and friends at a press conference at 11 a.m., Monday, May 9. The event, to be
followed by a reception, will be in the front lobby of War Memorial Gym.“I am excited to join a department that has such a great
history and reputation in college athletics,” Sidwell said. “My vision for USF
athletics is to develop student-athletes who will excel in the classroom, win
at the highest levels of competition, engage in the community, and become
leaders who will make a difference in the world.”
At Syracuse, Sidwell supervised the Orange Club, the
official fundraising organization for Syracuse athletics, and served as the
lead senior associate athletic director for campus relations and strategic
planning. Under his watch, Orange Club donations rose to $12.5 million from
$6.5. Sidwell also led a major campaign for all capital projects and
facilities, managed major gift planning and donor naming opportunities, and
structured the “SU Tomorrow” capital campaign, among other accomplishments.
“After an exhaustive and highly competitive national search,
we are thrilled to have Scott Sidwell as our new athletic director,” said
Jeffrey Brand, dean of the USF School of Law and chair of the athletic director
search committee. “He comes with a proven track record and a broad range of
experience in NCAA Division I athletics, including his current work in one of
America’s top programs. He has all the skills to insure that our student-athletes
achieve academic and athletic success and to bring prominence to USF
athletics.”
Sidwell, a Tulane University graduate who earned two varsity
letters as a baseball outfielder and went on to help coach Tulane’s baseball
squad, is the seventh athletic director at USF since 1961 and takes the reigns
from Gary Nelson, interim athletic director and USF golf coach. Nelson took the
post in September 2010, following the resignation of Debra Gore-Mann.
Before assuming the role of executive senior associate athletic
director at Syracuse, Sidwell served as the senior associate athletic director
for development. Prior to joining Syracuse athletics, Sidwell spent five
seasons at his alma mater, Tulane, as the associate athletic director for
corporate development and worked on Tulane’s external operations staff. From
1998-2000, Sidwell was the director of marketing operations for the New Orleans
Saints.
Sidwell is married with three children.
