The Cleveland Browns have added Steve Malin as Director of College Scouting. Chris Cooper was promoted to Vice President of Football Administration and Brandon Sosna was promoted to Salary Cap Analyst. Scott Kaniecki will transition from a Scouting Assistant to Defensive Quality Control Coach.
The club also parted ways with Chisom Opara (Director of Player Personnel), Bobby Vega (Director of College Scouting), Zac Bocian (scout), Scott Levin (Scout), Patrick Moore (Scout) and Keegan Leyrer (College Scouting Assistant).
Malin comes to Cleveland with over 17 years of NFL scouting experience, most recently serving as a national scout for New Orleans Saints for two years. Prior to his stint in New Orleans, Malin was a member of the New York Giants scouting staff from 2001-16. During his time in New York, the Giants advanced to the postseason seven times and won Super Bowls XLII and Super Bowl XLVI. Before entering the NFL, Malin spent the 2000 season as a regional scout in the XFL. Malin was an assistant coach at Southern Methodist University from 1994-99 and at his alma mater East Texas State University in 1993. A native of Texas, he earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from East Texas State and a master's degree in liberal arts from SMU.
Cooper is in his fifth season with the Browns after previously serving as Director of Football Administration. He has played a key role in the team's efforts to build its roster, including negotiating contracts with players and their representatives for rookies, free agents and members of the active roster. He was highly involved in the Browns' ability to reach long-term contract extensions with OL Joel Bitonio (2017), LB Jamie Collins Sr. (2017), LB Christian Kirksey (2017) and WR Jarvis Landry (2018). Cooper also played a pivotal role in the Browns inking 10 unrestricted free agents in 2018. Before joining the Browns, Cooper served six seasons with NFL headquarters in New York, where he aided the league's management council in a variety of capacities from 2008-14. He also spent time with the Minnesota Vikings as a law clerk in 2008. A native of Sparta, N.J., Cooper received his bachelor's degree in sociology from Virginia before securing his JD degree from Brooklyn Law School.
Sosna is entering his second season with the Browns after spending 2017 as an intern. Prior to joining the Browns, Sosna spent two years at the University of Cincinnati, most recently serving as the chief of staff to the director of athletics. A native of Cincinnati, Sosna earned a degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Kaniecki has worked in the Browns player personnel department since 2015. He has also had coaching stints at IUP and Colorado School of Mines. A native of Grand Island, New York, Kaniecki earned a bachelor's degree from SUNY Brockport and master's degree from IUP.
