Chris Gedney (left) will lead the Orange Club as SU's senior associate athletics director, replacing Scott Sidwell (third from left), who is becoming the athletics director at the University of San Francisco.
Photo by: Ben Gabbe
Gedney Promoted as Sidwell Departs Syracuse for San Francisco
4/29/2011 1:00:00 PM | General
Former Syracuse University football All-American Chris Gedney will lead the athletics department development efforts as senior associate athletics director, replacing Scott Sidwell, who is leaving the University to become the director of athletics at the University of San Francisco. Gedney, who has worked in the Orange Club office since the Fall of 2008, is a 1993 Syracuse University graduate and a four-year football letterwinner.
“I am proud to announce Chris Gedney as our new director of development,” said Syracuse director of athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. “Chris has shown an amazing capacity to lead us in athletic fund raising. His loyalty to Syracuse University is unmatched and contagious. Chris has tremendous work ethic, leadership, enthusiasm, demeanor and intelligence, which will take us to new heights.”
In his new role, Gedney will be responsible for leading the major campaign for capital projects/facilities, managing all major gift planning and donor naming opportunities, structuring the “SU Tomorrow” campaign, and managing the Orange Club office and staff. In his post as associate athletics director, Gedney handles the solicitation of major gifts for athletics, coordinates and manages the donor prospect pool, and assists with the day-to-day operations of the Orange Club. He also serves as the staff liaison for the Syracuse Football Club and is the analyst for the Syracuse IMG College Radio Network football broadcasts.
A 1992 consensus All-American tight end, Gedney set school records for receptions by a tight end in a season (34 in 1992) and career (91). He was a member of Orange teams that played in the Peach Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Hall of Fame Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl and was named to the SU All-Century Football Team.
During his eight-year career in the NFL, Gedney played for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals. In 2000 he was a finalist for the NFL Man of the Year Award and in 2001 he was honored with the Ed Block and Gene Autry Courage awards.
Gedney, who earned his bachelor's degree in speech communication, worked in private business for six years with National City Mortgage, Meritage Mortgage Corporation and Countrywide. For seven years, Gedney volunteered for the Southwest Chapter of Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America as a fund raiser and spokesperson and he served three years on the board of executive directors, including a year as president.
Sidwell leaves Syracuse after five years as an athletics administrator for the Orange athletics program, including the last two as executive senior associate athletics director. He 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.
"We will truly miss Scott, as his hard work significantly enhanced Syracuse Athletics," Gross said. "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."
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,” in which Athletics has raised $106M toward its $150M goal. In his time directing the Orange Club, donation revenues to Syracuse Athletics increased from $6.5M to $12.5M.
“I am proud to announce Chris Gedney as our new director of development,” said Syracuse director of athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. “Chris has shown an amazing capacity to lead us in athletic fund raising. His loyalty to Syracuse University is unmatched and contagious. Chris has tremendous work ethic, leadership, enthusiasm, demeanor and intelligence, which will take us to new heights.”
In his new role, Gedney will be responsible for leading the major campaign for capital projects/facilities, managing all major gift planning and donor naming opportunities, structuring the “SU Tomorrow” campaign, and managing the Orange Club office and staff. In his post as associate athletics director, Gedney handles the solicitation of major gifts for athletics, coordinates and manages the donor prospect pool, and assists with the day-to-day operations of the Orange Club. He also serves as the staff liaison for the Syracuse Football Club and is the analyst for the Syracuse IMG College Radio Network football broadcasts.
A 1992 consensus All-American tight end, Gedney set school records for receptions by a tight end in a season (34 in 1992) and career (91). He was a member of Orange teams that played in the Peach Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Hall of Fame Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl and was named to the SU All-Century Football Team.
During his eight-year career in the NFL, Gedney played for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals. In 2000 he was a finalist for the NFL Man of the Year Award and in 2001 he was honored with the Ed Block and Gene Autry Courage awards.
Gedney, who earned his bachelor's degree in speech communication, worked in private business for six years with National City Mortgage, Meritage Mortgage Corporation and Countrywide. For seven years, Gedney volunteered for the Southwest Chapter of Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America as a fund raiser and spokesperson and he served three years on the board of executive directors, including a year as president.
Sidwell leaves Syracuse after five years as an athletics administrator for the Orange athletics program, including the last two as executive senior associate athletics director. He 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.
"We will truly miss Scott, as his hard work significantly enhanced Syracuse Athletics," Gross said. "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."
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,” in which Athletics has raised $106M toward its $150M goal. In his time directing the Orange Club, donation revenues to Syracuse Athletics increased from $6.5M to $12.5M.
Sunday, May 24
Saturday, May 23
Saturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
