Tennessee head coach Butch Jones announced on Tuesday that Bob Welton has been named the Vols’ new director of player personnel. A veteran of the NFL ranks, Welton spent the last nine years with the Cleveland Browns.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Bob & his family into our Tennessee football family,” said Jones. “Bob brings a wealth of experience to our program and will be a great resource for our current players. He will play a vital role in aiding and overseeing our recruiting efforts to attract the highest caliber student-athletes to Tennessee. The experience he gained in his nine years in the National Football League and his time as a head high school football coach will serve our football program well.”
Welton served as a college scout with the Browns from 2004-13. During his first two years, Welton was the team’s BLESTO scout in charge of covering the Midwest.
Prior to joining the Browns, he served seven years as a head high school football coach. Welton spent the 2003 season with Coloma (Mich.) High School where he guided the team to its first undefeated season and first playoff victory in school history. For his efforts, he was named Lakeland Conference and MHSFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year.
Prior to Coloma, Welton spent six seasons as head coach at South Haven (Mich.) High School where he helped revive the program and rebuild the school’s football stadium. Welton also served as head track coach at South Haven from 2001 until his departure. He taught physical education at the school from 1997 until 2003, when he began teaching special education.
Welton also has coached baseball and served as an assistant varsity football coach at Adrian (Mich.) High School from 1990-96.
Welton was born in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in Luna Pier, Michigan, where he attended Erie-Mason High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education/health from Adrian (Mich.) College, where he played quarterback and was part of two MIAA championship teams. Welton did his post-graduate work at both Eastern Michigan University and Grand Valley State University.
Welton and his wife, Laura, have a son, Tye, and a daughter, Brooke.
