Scott Sidwell was named Penn State’s Deputy Director of Athletics for External in February 2019.
In his role at Penn State, Sidwell is a member of the department's executive team and oversees Penn State Athletics’ content units and functions. He directs the leadership of the department’s strategic communications, marketing, creative services, and video departments. He also serves as the sport administrator for the football and baseball programs. Development of revenue generation initiatives, fan experience, strategic partnerships, multimedia rights, branding and licensing also are among his key areas of oversight.
Under Sidwell’s guidance, Penn State saw record revenues during the 2021 football season. He has also spearheaded the Lasch Football building renovation and fundraising efforts and is currently orchestrating the Beaver Stadium study and financial analysis to determine the best course of action. Sidwell also transitioned the video production and ticket sales operations in house which not only realized a financial impact on Penn State Athletics, but also improved efficiencies.
Sidwell has expanded the external footprint of Penn State Athletics by working with the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau in the creation of the Happy Valley Sports and Entertainment Commission of which he serves as the vice chair. The Commission has implemented an economic impact study while also pursuing opportunities to bring sports and entertainment to the Centre Region.
A dynamic and experienced leader and former collegiate student-athlete, Sidwell came to Happy Valley having served as Director of Athletics at the University of San Francisco since June 2011.
At the University of San Francisco, Sidwell directed an athletic department with 16 programs that compete in the West Coast Conference (WCC). The Dons placed No. 105 in the final 2017-18 Learfield Directors’ standings, improving by more than 100 spots over the past five years. A demonstrated successful fund raiser, he has played a significant role in USF Athletics raising $40 million over the past seven years, including $27 million for facilities. He helped secure a $15 million gift that supports USF’s first-ever facilities master plan and will assist in renovating War Memorial Gymnasium, the home for several teams, including men’s and women’s basketball. Among the projects completed under Sidwell’s watch was the Benedetti Diamond, providing the USF baseball team with one of the premier facilities on the west coast.
Sidwell helped USF teams and students make significant strides academically and competitively during his tenure. San Francisco student-athletes posted a school record 3.39 cumulative grade-point average during the 2017 fall semester and have an 89 percent NCAA Graduation Success Rate. The Dons’ women’s cross country team placed second at the 2017 NCAA Championships, the women’s basketball team won its first WCC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 19 years and the men’s basketball team won 20-plus games his last three seasons. Sidwell was chair of the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee in 2016-17.
Prior to USF, Sidwell served as Associate AD for Development (three years) and Executive Senior Associate AD (nearly three years) at Syracuse University, leading all external operations and playing a large role in raising $106 million during his tenure.
Sidwell also has served in development, marketing and sales positions with Tulane University, the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Zephrys (Class AAA baseball; now known as the New Orleans Baby Cakes).
Originally from the New Orleans area, Sidwell earned a bachelor’s degree at Tulane University, where he was a baseball student-athlete. He began his collegiate career at Brown University, earning All-Ivy League baseball honors as a freshman. Sidwell’s professional career in intercollegiate athletics began as Tulane’s assistant baseball coach for two years.
Sidwell and his wife, Samantha, have three children: Madison, Beau and Lily.
