Bill Battle, Former Alabama Athletic Director and Tennessee Coach, Passes Away at 82

William ‘Bill’ Battle, a legendary figure in college athletics, passed away on November 28, 2024, at the age of 82. Battle had a distinguished career that spanned multiple roles, including his time as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator.

Battle played football for the University of Alabama from 1960 to 1962, contributing to the Crimson Tide‘s success during that period. After his playing career, he went on to become the head coach at the University of Tennessee from 1970 to 1976, leading the Tennessee Volunteers football team.

In addition to his coaching tenure, Battle served as the athletic director at the University of Alabama from 2013 to 2017. During his time as athletic director, he oversaw significant developments and successes across various sports programs at Alabama.

Battle was also a pioneer in the field of collegiate licensing, playing a crucial role in the development of the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), which has become a major force in managing the licensing rights of college athletic programs.

His contributions to both the University of Alabama and the University of Tennessee, as well as his impact on collegiate athletics as a whole, have left a lasting legacy in the sports world.