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Bill Battle, former Alabama AD and Tennessee coach, dies at 82
By Mark Kern
Published:
Bill Battle, a former athletic director at Alabama and coach at Tennessee has passed away at 82 years old.
Alabama announced that news on Thursday morning:
https://twitter.com/UA_Athletics/status/1862157359352529139
Battle started his career in the SEC as a player at Alabama from 1960-1962 under legendary Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant. In 1961, Battle and the Crimson Tide won a national title, which was the first in Bryant’s coaching career. He was a tight end and defensive end on the team, and was named to Alabama’s All-Decade team.
His first coaching job was in 1963, when he was an assistant coach at Oklahoma. He was there until 1966, when he became an assistant at Tennessee. In 1970, he became the head coach at Tennessee, where he posted a 59-22-2 career record. He went 4-1 in bowl games during that time.
From 1981 until 2002, he was the CEO and president of Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). The company was eventually bought in 2007 by IMG.
In 2013, he became the athletic director at Alabama, where he held that job for 5 years. During his time in charge in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide won 3 national championships and 10 SEC championships.
Bear Bryant’s son, Paul Bryant Jr., was a friend of Battle’s and shared a statement on his passing:
“It’s difficult to put into words just how much Coach Battle means to The University of Alabama and college athletics, as a whole,” Bryant said. “He excelled in so many areas and was a true visionary. Beyond his accomplishments, he was an incredible man, and I am forever grateful for the friendship we built over the years. We will miss him tremendously and are praying for Mary, Pat, Mike, Shannon, Kayla and the entire Battle family.”
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey were amongst those who paid tribute to Battle’s impact on Thursday:
Bill was an innovator as a coach, businessman, & athletics director, who loved his family & was committed to the special opportunities presented through intercollegiate athletics. In the SEC, we share in the sorrow of Bill's passing but are thankful for his impact & friendship. https://t.co/bpRleQDWlO
— Greg Sankey (@GregSankey) November 28, 2024
Forever grateful for the friendship Coach Battle and I built over the years. He was an incredible man and visionary in our industry. We will miss him tremendously and are praying for Mary, Pat, Mike, Shannon, Kayla and the entire Battle family. https://t.co/igkJJN0FuA
— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) November 28, 2024
