It’s official Browns fans:

Eric Mangini completed his rise from Browns ball boy and public relations intern Wednesday, when he reached agreement on a contract to become the team’s fourth coach since 1999.

Mangini went 23-25 with the New York Jets, including a 10-6 playoff season in his first year in 2006. In 2008, the Jets started 8-3 but finished 9-7 as quarterback Brett Favre faded down the stretch.

Mangini, who turns 38 on Jan. 19, was the first person Lerner interviewed after firing coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage after a 4-12 season and 24-40 record over four years.

A protege of former Browns coach Bill Belichick and a graduate of Belichick’s alma mater Wesleyan University, Mangini worked with Belichick for 10 years, including one in Cleveland (1995) and three with the Jets when Belichick was assistant head coach under Bill Parcells.

Mangini could also consider keeping Crennel on as an assistant since they worked together for seven years with the Jets and Patriots.

I shared my thoughts on the subject here.