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 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.

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.

Bill Battle, the former Alabama director of athletics and Crimson Tide football player, has died at age 82, the university announced Thursday.