Alabama hires Bob Welton as next director of player personnel
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —Nick Saban has brought another Tennessee staffer to Tuscaloosa. Alabama hired former Tennessee player personnel director Bob Welton to the same position, sources have told BamaInsider.com. Welton will begin work with the Crimson Tide beginning next week.
Welton will replace former personnel director Jody Wright, who recently left to become UAB’s offensive line coach, assistant coach and run game coordinator. Welton is the second Tennessee staffer hired by Alabama this offseason as the Crimson Tide brought in former Volunteers head coach Butch Jones as an offensive analyst in March.
Welton was hired by Jones at Tennessee in 2013 and spent the last five years leading the Volunteers recruiting office. He originally remained a part of Tennessee’s staff after former Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt became the Volunteers’ head coach but left in February to become the personnel director for Nebraska.
Prior to Tennessee, Welton served as a college scout with the Cleveland Browns from 2004-13. Before that, he served seven years as a high school football coach. According to sources, Welton’s lack of on-field experience at the college and pro levels was actually a plus for Alabama as Saban favored a coach with more emphasis on scouting for the position.