Bill Battle III, who was athletic director at his alma mater, Alabama, where he played for Paul “Bear” Bryant’s first national championship team, coached the Tennessee Volunteers and also founded the Collegiate Licensing Company,

Bill Battle, a former football coach at Tennessee, has died. The University of Alabama, where he played football and later would serve as athletic director, made the announcement Thursday. He was 82. Battle was the coach of the Vols from 1970-76, going 59-22-2 with five bowl appearances in seven seasons.

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: Former Alabama administrator and student-athlete, coach and licensing pioneer Bill Battle passes away at 82

Former University of Tennessee Coach William “Bill” Battle III died on Thanksgiving morning at the age of 82, according to the university. From his time at Tennessee, Battle is known for leading the Vols to five bowl games and three top-10 poll finishes between 1970 and 1976.

Bill Battle, who won national championships as an Alabama football player and later became UA’s athletics director, has died, UA announced Thursday. He was 82. Battle, a Birmingham native, played for Paul “Bear” Bryant,