William Raines Battle III (December 8, 1941 – November 28, 2024) was an American college athletics administrator and football coach. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. Battle later became the athletic director of his alma mater, the University of Alabama, from 2013 to 2017. He was appointed by University President Judy L. Bonner and approved by the board of trustees March 22, 2013. He succeeded long-time director Mal Moore, who stepped down for health reasons at age 73.

Career

Battle was formerly a licensing executive and a college football player and coach. He was the head football coach at the University of Tennessee from 1970 to 1976. At the time he began as head coach, he was at 29 the youngest college head coach in the country. A native of Birmingham, Alabama and a graduate of the University of Alabama, Battle was one of many of Bear Bryant's former players and assistant coaches who would later become head coaches. Despite a 59–22–2 record in seven seasons in Knoxville, Battle was forced out after the 1976 season, allowing Volunteer legend Johnny Majors to return to his alma mater after leading Pittsburgh to the 1976 national championship. Battle was the founder and chairman of The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). In 1981, while working for Golden Eagle Enterprises in Selma, Alabama, Battle signed Paul "Bear" Bryant to a licensing agreement. The University of Alabama signed on as CLC's first university client. In 1983, Battle moved the newly formed company to Atlanta, Georgia. Battle was also a member of the group that votes in the Harris Interactive College Football Poll.

Personal life and death

Battle was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Battle's father, William Raines "Bill" Battle Jr., was athletic director at Birmingham–Southern College from 1952 to 1974. His grandfather William Raines Battle was a Methodist minister. Battle was also inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa – the National Leadership Honor Society at the University of Alabama in 1962. Battle died November 28, 2024, at the age of 82.

Head coaching record