Ex-Alabama AD, Vols coach Battle dies at 82

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Invoice Battle III, who was athletic director at his alma mater, Alabama, the place he performed for Paul “Bear” Bryant’s first nationwide championship crew, then later coached the Tennessee Volunteers and based the Collegiate Licensing Firm, has died. He was 82.

Alabama launched an announcement Thursday saying that Battle had died. No particulars have been supplied.

“It is troublesome to place into phrases simply how a lot Coach Battle means to The College of Alabama and school athletics, as a complete,” athletic director Greg Byrne stated. “He excelled in so many areas and was a real visionary.”

Born in Birmingham, Battle was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide between 1960 and 1962 and helped Bryant win his first nationwide title in 1961.

Battle began his teaching profession at Oklahoma, the place he earned a grasp’s diploma in schooling in 1964 whereas working beneath Bud Wilkinson. He was an assistant at Military throughout a two-year navy tour in 1964-65.

He moved to Tennessee in 1966 and was an assistant coach for 4 years. When Doug Dickey left for a similar job at Florida in 1970, the 28-year-old Battle turned the youngest head coach on the time. Battle went 59-22-2 with the Volunteers, successful 4 of 5 bowl video games.

In 1972, Battle named Condredge Holloway the Vols’ beginning quarterback, making him the primary Black participant to start out at that place for a Southeastern Convention crew. Tennessee performed its first night time sport at Neyland Stadium that very same season towards Penn State.

In 1981, Battle based the Collegiate Licensing Firm and was president and CEO till 2002. The corporate was purchased by IMG in 2007.

Battle took over as athletic director at Alabama in 2013, spending 4 years on the job. The Crimson Tide gained three nationwide championships throughout his tenure, and he later served as particular assistant to the college president.

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban referred to as Battle “first-class” and stated he represented the college with “great character and integrity.” Saban praised Battle for revolutionizing the enterprise of faculty athletics.

“I bought to know him finest when he returned to direct the Alabama athletics division the place his imaginative and prescient and management have been driving components within the Crimson Tide’s success that resulted in our 2015 nationwide championship,” Saban stated.

Battle is a member of a number of halls of fame. He additionally was honored by the Nationwide Soccer Basis, obtained a lifetime achievement award from the Tennessee Sports activities Corridor of Fame and was recipient of the 2005 Paul W. Bryant Alumni Athlete Award.

“Invoice was an progressive chief who had a distinguished profession as a coach, businessman, and athletics director, who cherished his household and was dedicated to the particular alternatives introduced by means of intercollegiate athletics,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stated.