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.

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.

Bill Battle, a member of Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's first National Title team at Alabama, former Athletic Director at director of athletics

He was an outstanding football player at Alabama, a successful collegiate head coach and visionary who revolutionized the business of college athletics."

Bill Battle, former director of athletics for the University of Alabama and a legendary figure in college athletics, has passed away at the age of 82.