Martin, Sidwell, Elliott in Rice AD Search

HOUSTON - FOX 26 Sports has learned Dr. Brandon Martin, senior associate athletics director at USC, is one of the candidates to become the next athletics director at Rice.

Sources with knowledge of the search told FOX 26 Martin was in Houston last week meeting with the school's search committee.

Among those also interviewed in Houston last week were Scott Sidwell, executive senior associate athletics director at Syracuse, and Kellie Elliott, former deputy director of athletics at Florida State.

Martin was involved in the search for a new athletics director at the University of Houston last summer with UH eventually hiring Mack Rhoades.

Martin, who has been unavailable for comment, wears two hats at USC.

He is also Assistant Professor of Clinical Education in USC's Rossier School of Education.

Sidwell has been on the staff at Syracuse since 2005.

A graduate of Tulane, Sidwell has also worked at his alma mater as well as with the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Zephyrs, a minor league baseball franchise.

Prior to working at Florida State, Elliott worked for San Jose State for three years where she was also deputy director of athletics.

Elliott has also worked for Stanford, her alma mater, in a variety of roles.

Sidwell and Elliott have not been unavailable for comment.

The only confirmed candidate to become the next AD at Rice is acting athletics director David Sayler.

Sayler took over the Owls program when Chris Del Conte left for TCU in October.

The school has already said he is a candidate for the job on a permanent basis.

Other candidates identified by FOX 26 Sports include former Indiana athletics director Rick Greenspan, Providence athletics director Robert Driscoll Jr., Florida Atlantic athletics director Craig Angelos, Sam Houston State athletics director Bobby Williams Jr. and former Rice football star Bobby Dixon.