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

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.