The Baltimore Ravens announced Wednesday several promotions and additions to the organization: Ron Medlin was promoted to head certified athletic trainer following the retirement of Mark Smith, while Bobby Vega was hired as the Ravens' East area scout, and Joey Cleary was promoted to college and pro scout.
Additionally, Michael Blankenship, Duane Brooks and Collin Francis were hired as assistant certified athletic trainers.
In addition to his work providing treatment, prevention and rehabilitation to players most recently as the team's top assistant athletic trainer, Medlin helped re-design the Ravens' medical operations system to improve efficiency and productivity. He began his Baltimore career in 2011 after serving 17 years as the Atlanta Falcons' head athletic trainer. Prior to the Falcons, he worked with former Ravens trainers Smith and Bill Tessendorf at the Cleveland Browns from 1989-94.
Medlin's efforts contributed to the Ravens' 2012 Super Bowl win, and he also helped guide the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance during his time in Atlanta. His career in football spans 35 years, from working as a training camp intern with the Falcons to serving his graduate school alma mater, Memphis State, as both an assistant and head football athletic trainer.
Originally a player personnel intern with the Ravens in 2004, Vega returns to the team after a 13-year stint with the Browns, most recently as the director of college scouting for two seasons (2016-17). He began in Cleveland evaluating players from smaller schools and worked his way up to a position as a national scout before being named director. Prior to his scouting career, Vega was a four-year starter at The College of Wooster, playing running back and linebacker.
Cleary joined the Ravens in 2015 as a player personnel assistant, helping assess free-agent prospects, preparing advance scouting reports on upcoming opponents and organizing local college workouts. Before his time with the Ravens, he attended Bowdoin as a two-sport athlete, playing football and lacrosse. He spent 2014 with the Princeton football team assisting with recruiting evaluations and player visits.
Cleary is the newest addition to Baltimore's "20/20 Club," which includes members of the personnel staff who started with the Ravens as young assistants and grew into evaluators with more input. The term "20/20" refers to hiring 20-year-olds for $20,000. However, as Ravens General Manager/Executive Vice President Ozzie Newsome explained, "The guys actually started when they were a little older than 20 and for more than $20,000, but that's what we call them."
Other current members of the club include senior personnel assistant George Kokinis, assistant general manager Eric DeCosta and director of college scouting Joe Hortiz, among others.
