Alabama officially names Welton director of player personnel
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama head coach Nick Saban officially announced the hiring of Bob Welton as the Crimson Tide’s next director of player personnel on Tuesday morning.
“We are excited to add Bob Welton to our staff as the director of player personnel,” Saban said. “Bob has a lot of experience in this role and a reputation for being very organized and an excellent talent evaluator. He has worked at all levels of football, serving as an NFL scout, a player personnel director at the college level and a head coach in high school. Bob is a great fit for this role, and we are happy to welcome his wife Laura and their children to the Crimson Tide program.”
Welton will replace former personnel director Jody Wright, who recently left to become UAB’s offensive line coach, assistant coach and run game coordinator. BamaInsider reported Welton's hiring earlier this month. According to sources, he began the job last week.
Welton comes to Alabama after a brief stint as Nebraska’s director of recruiting operations during the spring of 2018. Prior to that, he served as the director of player personnel at Tennessee for five seasons (2013-17). He 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.
As the Crimson Tide’s director of player personnel, Welton will be responsible for the organization of all recruiting efforts. He will also work with compliance regarding initial eligibility and assist with coaching clinics, camps and other on-campus events.
At Tennessee, Welton helped the Vols put together five top 25 recruiting classes, including two top-10 classes according to 247Sports.com (No. 7 in 2014 & No. 4 in 2015).
“I am very appreciative for the opportunity to work for Coach Saban and the Alabama football program,” Welton said. “Alabama has been the standard for program excellence in college football for a long time. I am excited and humbled to be part of it, and I look forward to doing my part to continue the tradition of success.”
A nine-year veteran of the NFL, Welton served as a college scout with the Browns from 2004-13 before moving on to Knoxville. Prior to joining the Browns, he spent seven years as a high school football coach. He led South Haven (Mich.) High School for six years and Coloma (Mich.) High School for one season, where he guided the team to an undefeated season.
According to sources, Welton's scouting prowess was the key reason in why he was brought to Alabama.
Welton earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education/health at Adrian (Mich.) College in 1991, where he played quarterback and was part of two MIAA championship teams. A native of Luna Pier, Mich., Welton and his wife Laura, have a son, Tye, and a daughter, Brooke.
All such employment contracts are subject to approval by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.