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Scott Sidwell Named Athletic Director at the University of San Francisco
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 29, 2011
(San Francisco) – The University of San Francisco is pleased
to welcome Scott Sidwell as its Director of Athletics. A dynamic
and experienced leader, Sidwell served most recently as the
executive senior associate athletic director at Syracuse
University, and comes to the Hilltop after a comprehensive
nationwide search.
“I am excited to join a department that has such great
history and reputation in college athletics,” Sidwell said.
“The vision of the University of San Francisco is to educate
leaders for a better world, and that’s the ideal platform for
our student-athletes to excel in the classroom, in competition, and
in the community. I look forward to working with our
student-athletes, staff, and coaches to reach new levels of success
in all areas.”
At Syracuse, Sidwell headed all external operations for the
perennial BIG EAST Conference power and directed the
department’s marketing, communications, ticket sales and
media properties efforts. He 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.
Sidwell will be introduced at a press conference Monday, May 9,
beginning at 11:00 AM in the front lobby of War Memorial Gym on the
USF campus. Following the press conference, a reception will be
held to welcome Sidwell and his family to the Hilltop. All
university personnel, alumni, fans and friends of USF Athletics are
encouraged to attend.
“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 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.”
Brand was joined on the search committee by: Dr. Gary
Nelson, USF Interim Athletic Director, Charles Cross, USF Vice
President for Business and Finance, Jack Boland,
alumnus, Dick Saalfeld, alumnus and former member of the USF
Board of Trustees, Dr. Jeremy Howell, USF’s NCAA
Faculty Representative, Liz Miles, athletic department
project manager and three USF head coaches – Jennifer Azzi,
women’s basketball, Erik Visser, men’s soccer and Rex
Walters, men’s basketball. DHR International, one of the
nation’s leading executive search firms, worked with the
committee throughout the process.
Sidwell becomes the seventh athletic director at USF since 1961
and takes the reigns from interim athletic director Dr. Gary
Nelson, who has served since September of 2010 after the
resignation of Debra Gore-Mann.
“We are excited about the bright future of USF athletics and
the exciting possibilities that Scott Sidwell brings with him to
the Hilltop,” said USF president Stephen A. Privett, S.J.
“His energy and experience will contribute significantly to
the success of our teams and student-athletes.”
At Syracuse, Sidwell played a key role marketing one of the
nation’s most storied athletic programs. He led the major
campaign for all capital projects and facilities, managed all major
gift planning and donor naming opportunities, and structured the
“SU Tomorrow” capital campaign.
As director of the Orange Club, Sidwell worked on the $19M Carmelo
Anthony Basketball Facility and a major capital campaign to upgrade
Manley Field House. Past major projects with the Orange Club
included major renovations to the Manley Field House lobby, locker
rooms, and construction of three new suites and an executive club
suite.
Before assuming the role of executive senior associate athletic
director in September of 2008, Sidwell served as the senior
associate athletic director for development, starting in January of
2006. Sidwell spearheaded the Athletic departments efforts for the
“The Campaign for Syracuse University” which Athletics
has raised $106M towards its $150M departmental goal. In his time
directing the Orange Club, donation revenues to Syracuse Athletics
increased from $6.5M to $12.5M.
During his tenure, Syracuse captured 10 BIG EAST regular season
championships, six BIG EAST Conference tournament championships and
back-to-back NCAA Championships in men’s lacrosse
(2007-08).
USF will be Sidwell’s first athletic director post, and he
takes over a program on the upswing. USF’s women’s
cross country team secured back-to-back WCC championships (2009-10)
and the men’s golf program recently captured its second
league title in three seasons. In basketball, USF posted a
remarkable turnaround, highlighted by the program’s first
10-victory WCC campaign since 1982 and a semifinal appearance in
the 2011 CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament.
“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,” Sidwell said.
Prior to joining the athletics staff at Syracuse, Sidwell spent
five seasons at his alma mater, Tulane University. He joined the
Green Wave in 2000 as the associate athletic director for corporate
development, and led Tulane’s external operations staff from
2003-05. Sidwell supervised all athletic department external
operations efforts including development (Tulane Athletic Fund),
sales and marketing, radio and television, special events, and
media/public relations. Sidwell served as the sport administrator
for baseball, men’s golf, and track, as executive director of
the T Club Letterman’s Association and as coordinator of the
Perpetual Wave capital campaign.
Before his successful career in collegiate athletic
administration, Sidwell made an impact in professional sports in
New Orleans. After spending two seasons as the director of group
sales for the Class AAA New Orleans Zephyrs (1996-97), Sidwell took
over as the director of marketing operations for the New Orleans
Saints for two seasons (1998-00).
A 1994 Tulane graduate, Sidwell earned two varsity letters for the
Green Wave baseball squad as an outfielder. As a senior, Sidwell
helped Tulane to a 41-victory season and a berth in the 1994 NCAA
regionals. He won the 1994 Jim and Joan Lebreton Leadership Award
and spent his first two seasons at Brown University, where he was a
unanimous All-Ivy selection in 1991.
Following his playing career, Sidwell coached on the baseball
staff at Tulane University and helped the Green Wave post a 75-46
overall record from 1995-96. Highlights included the
program’s inaugural Conference USA title in 1996, a 43-win
season and a 1996 NCAA regional berth.
Sidwell and his wife, Samantha, have three children: Madison (13),
Beau (11) and Lily (3).
What they are saying about Scott Sidwell
“Scott has been a key member of the team that has taken
SU Athletics to extraordinary heights,” says SU Chancellor
and President Nancy Cantor. “He has helped create the
strongest athletics program top to bottom that SU has ever
had--especially in terms of the resources and support needed to
achieve excellence on and off the field. While we’ll
always consider Scott part of the SU family, the University of San
Francisco is getting an outstanding leader.”
-Nancy Cantor
Chancellor and President, Syracuse University
“We will truly miss Scott, as his hard work
significantly enhanced Syracuse Athletics. He led us to record fund
raising levels and was a brilliant administrator, overseeing and
helping to shape many areas of the department. We are much better
today because of his loyal service. I believe he will do an
excellent job at the University of San Francisco, as I know he will
set the bar of expectations high and accomplish his vision of
excellence.”
-Dr. Daryl Gross
Director of Athletics, Syracuse
“We appreciate the fund raising work Scott did for
Syracuse, especially in regard to the Carmelo Anthony Basketball
Center. We wish Scott the best of luck in his new
position.”
-Jim Boeheim
Head Coach, Syracuse Men’s Basketball
Naismith Hall of Fame Member
“I wish Scott all the best in his new role as Athletic
Director at the University of San Francisco. He leaves behind many
contributions to Syracuse and the BIG EAST in his six years with
the Orange. He is deserving of this new challenge and is sure to
meet it with success and achievement.”
-John Marinatto
Commissioner, BIG EAST Conference
“We are grateful for Scott’s efforts to help us build
communitywide support for the football program and in enhancing the
atmosphere in the Carrier Dome. We wish him well in leading the
University of San Francisco athletics program.”
-Doug Marrone
Head Coach, Syracuse Football
“Scott is among the bright young leaders in
intercollegiate athletics, and no doubt he will do a great job at
USF.”
- Britton B. Banowsky
Commissioner, Conference USA
“Scott was instrumental in developing resources and
support as our programs experienced unprecedented successes in
academics, competition, and in our community. The greatest
achievement was his role in helping Tulane through the disaster of
Katrina, which has allowed us to rebuild ourselves as a university
and program. He will bring leadership, energy, vision, and passion
to both the Hilltop and the Bay Area communities. Congratulations,
this is a great hire!
- Rick Dickson
Athletic Director, Tulane
“We are excited about the possibilities for the future
of USF Athletics that Scott Sidwell brings with him to the Hilltop.
His energy and experience will contribute significantly to the
continuing success of our teams and the overall well-being of our
student athletes.”
- Rev. Stephen A. Privett, S.J.
President, University of San Francisco
“I had the opportunity to visit with Scott and came away
very impressed. Scott brings so much to the table and I am
more than confident that he is going to do great things on the
Hilltop. This is an exciting day for USF Athletics and I am
ready to work for and with Scott as he works to take our Athletics
Department to even greater heights. We all need to welcome
Scott and his family to the University of San
Francisco.”
- Rex Walters
Head Coach, San Francisco Men’s
Basketball
“Scott has an energetic, dynamic personality which will
resonate with the university community, alumni and throughout the
city of San Francisco and beyond. Scott is passionate about the
welfare of student-athletes and the quality of their experience
representing the University of San Francisco. I look forward to
Scott joining the USF family. “
-Eric Visser
Head Coach, San Francisco Men’s
Soccer
