Browns President Alec Scheiner had been conspicuously absent from coaching interviews and subsequent news conferences in recent months.
Now the reason is clear.
Scheiner will officially step down on March 31 after overseeing the day-to-day business operations of the organization for the past three years, the team announced Friday afternoon.
The news broke two months after owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam fired General Manager Ray Farmer along with coach Mike Pettine and restructured the front office on Jan. 3.
Sashi Brown was promoted the same day from executive vice president/general counsel to executive VP of football operations and given control of the 53-man roster. Longtime Major League Baseball executive Paul DePodesta was named chief strategy officer on Jan. 5. Coach Hue Jackson was hired on Jan. 13. And former Indianapolis Colts pro scouting coordinator Andrew Berry was hired as VP of player personnel on Jan. 27.
The shake-up left Scheiner without the power he sought on the football side. Scheiner assisted former CEO Joe Banner three years ago in pushing the franchise’s use of analytics. He later began a routine in which he studied game film with Farmer and also helped conduct coaching interviews during the searches that resulted in the hiring of Rob Chudzinski in 2013 and Pettine in 2014.
The Browns didn’t give an exact explanation for Scheiner’s exit. But in a prepared statement, the Haslams said “Alec is ready for the next challenge in his career, as our new structure would limit the opportunity for his leadership.”
Scheiner will consult the organization through the end of the year, per a news release.
The Browns won’t immediately fill the vacancy created by his departure, a team spokesman said. Brent Stehlik, executive VP-chief revenue officer, and David Jenkins, executive VP-chief financial officer, are now in the top roles on the business side.
The Browns credit Scheiner with overseeing the renovations of FirstEnergy Stadium and their headquarters in Berea in addition to overhauling the fan experience on game day as well as the team’s digital, audio and broadcast media.
“He was integral to the rebuild of our organization, the renovations of our stadium and training facility, and many of our strategies on the football side of our business,” the Haslams’ statement read in part. “His guidance has helped us accelerate our learning curve as NFL owners and that is something we will always appreciate.”
Scheiner spent eight years with the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Browns on Dec. 18, 2012.
“I have had an incredible experience with the Browns,” Scheiner said in a prepared statement. “Cleveland is amazing and the fans are uniquely passionate. I want to thank Dee and Jimmy Haslam for the opportunity to do what I truly love: rebuilding an organization with a group of people who have shown unparalleled hard work, commitment to their team and city. I look forward to helping the Browns over the next several months as I determine my next challenge.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.