With the recent departure of Camren Williams, who served as the Patriots director of college scouting, the team had an opening to fill.
Mission accomplished.
Tony Kinkela, who has served a national scout with the team the past three seasons, will be taking on the role of college scouting director, a source confirmed.
Kinkela had spent 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to being hired in New England, including 11 years as an area scout.
Prior to landing in the NFL, Kinkela served as the director of football operations for Tulane, and also was the assistant director of football operations with Washington State.
Williams, who was hired by [Bill Belichick](https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2025/06/bill-belichick-wasnt-dialed-in-for-final-nfl-years-and-teams-knew-why-report.html) in 2016, had been the team’s college scouting director since 2022.
Last month, he took a job with the Denver Broncos to serve as their co-director of player personnel.
Along with Williams, the Patriots previously saw the departures of director of pro scouting Patrick Stewart and southeast area scout Josh Hinch.
A.J. Highsmith was recently hired as the Patriots director of pro scouting.
SI’s Albert Breer was the first to report the news of Kinkela’s promotion.