Former Alabama AD, athlete Bill Battle passes away at age 82

William “Bill” Raines Battle III, former director of athletics and student-athlete at The University of Alabama, collegiate football coach and founder of Collegiate Licensing Company, has passed away at the age of 82.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Battle attended The University of Alabama on a football scholarship and was a three-year starter at end from 1960-62 for the Crimson Tide under legendary head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Battle was part of Coach Bryant’s first national championship team in 1961 and was named to UA’s All-Decade Team for the 1960s as first-team tight end and second-team defensive end.

Battle went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology and minor in psychology from The University of Alabama in 1963 and a master’s degree in education from The University of Oklahoma in 1964.

In 1963, Battle began his coaching career serving as a graduate assistant coach at OU under legendary head coach Bud Wilkinson and was an assistant coach at the United States Military Academy while serving a two-year military tour in 1964-65. In 1966, he moved to the University of Tennessee, where he was an assistant coach for four years. He was named head coach at Tennessee in 1970 and, during his seven-year tenure, his teams went 59-22-2, and won four out of five bowl games.

Battle founded the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) in 1981 and served as its president and CEO until 2002. CLC was acquired by IMG (originally known as International Management Group) in 2007.

In 2013, Battle returned to Tuscaloosa where he was director of athletics for four years. During his tenure, Alabama produced three NCAA team national championships, 10 SEC team championships in five different sports,15 NCAA individual champions, 43 Academic All-Americans, including six Academic All-Americans of the Year and 16 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship awardees.

Following his tenure as AD, Battle continued on at UA as special assistant to The University of Alabama president where he assisted Dr. Stuart R. Bell in a variety of initiatives benefitting the University and the Department of Athletics. 

Battle is a member of several halls of fame including the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (1981), the National Collegiate Licensing Association Hall of Fame (2000), the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association Hall of Fame (2008), the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators Hall of Fame (2010), the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2011), the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame (2016) and the Alabama Business Hall of Fame (2017).

Furthermore, he was honored by the National Football Foundation, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and was recipient of the 2005 Paul W. Bryant Alumni Athlete Award.

In May of 2017, Battle received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from The University of Alabama and an Honorary Doctor of Law from Birmingham Southern College.

Battle served on the boards of the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Foundation, The University of Alabama A-Club Educational & Charitable Foundation, the Crimson Tide Foundation and the National Football Foundation. He and his wife, Mary, also served on UAB’s Stem Cell Institute Board.

“Bill Battle’s legacy at The University of Alabama is profound and enduring. His generosity and visionary leadership elevated our institution and enriched the lives of countless students and colleagues. His dedication to excellence and steadfast devotion to UA will inspire generations to come. We are forever grateful for his friendship and his lasting impact on our community.”

• Stuart R. Bell, UA President

“Coach Battle was a great player and top prospect in the South when he came to Alabama at a time when the program was down. He started for Papa for three years including a national championship. He created the licensing industry that The University and schools nationwide still benefit from today. He was a major donor to The University. When we needed him again, he left retirement to help us as Athletic Director.”

• Paul Bryant Jr., Lifelong friend of Coach Battle and son of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant

“It’s difficult to put into words just how much Coach Battle means to The University of Alabama and college athletics, as a whole. 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.”

• Greg Byrne, Alabama Director of Athletics

“Bill Battle was first class in every way. He represented The University of Alabama with tremendous character and integrity. He was an outstanding football player at Alabama, a successful collegiate head coach and visionary who revolutionized the business of college athletics. I got to know him best when he returned to direct the Alabama athletics department where his vision and leadership were driving factors in the Crimson Tide’s success that resulted in our 2015 national championship. Terry and I are saddened by his passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Mary and their entire family. He will be deeply missed.”

• Nick Saban, Former Alabama head football coach

“I am grateful for the privilege to have known and worked with Bill Battle. Bill was an innovative leader who had a distinguished career as a coach, businessman, and athletics director, who loved his family and 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 and friendship.”

• Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference Commissioner

*** This information was acquired from a recent press release from Alabama Athletics. 

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