James Medrano
- Inducted 2008
- Team(s): Milwaukee Venom
- Years of Service: 2002-Present
- Position: Team Executive
- Accomplishments:
2002 Franchise of the year
2003 League Dedication Award
2004 Ironman of the year
2005 Most improved Team award
Jimmy Medrano established The Milwaukee Venom in 2002. He was the first to bring fully custom uniforms into the IFL, complete with the Venom logo and players’ names. The Milwaukee Venom missed the play-offs by a score and brought home the “Franchise of the Year” award in 2002. In 2003, Chris Chudada, IFL owner and CEO, recognized that Jimmy had new ideas and placed him on the board of directors. Jimmy organized a league-wide fund raiser to purchase the league’s first scoreboard and helped fund the IFL’s awards banquet. Also in 2003, Jimmy won an award for “Outstanding Dedication to the IFL.” In 2004, Jimmy had all IFL scores placed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s sports page scoreboard; a feat no other semi-pro league had been able to do. He also won the “Ironman of the Year” award at the 2004 awards banquet. In 2005, he co-produced the league’s first highlight film. He also produced the IFL’s first games for television. At the awards banquet, the Milwaukee Venom won the “Most Improved Team” award. In 2006, The Milwaukee Venom made their first play-off appearance. “Coaching Staff of the Year” honors were bestowed upon them at the IFL awards banquet. In 2007, Jimmy brought professional halftime shows to the league. The Venom missed the play-offs once again by a score and became the longest standing franchise in the IFL. Jimmy and the Milwaukee Venom are partially responsible for seven out of the fourteen franchises in the IFL today as they all have some Venom roots.