Tennessee football, others mourn the death of coach Bill Battle

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Former Tennessee football coach Bill Battle has died at the age of 82, Tennessee Football announced on social media.

Battle coached football at Tennessee from 1970 to 1976 and even coached future Volunteers national championship-winning coach Phillip Fulmer.

He compiled a record of 59-22-2, with four cup wins and three top-10 finishes in the final rankings.

Bill Battle, who coached Phillip Fulmer at UT, led the Volunteers for seven seasons, 1970-76.(Tennessee football)

Battle, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, played for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1960 to 1962. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Oklahoma under legendary coach Bud Wilkinson.

Battle began his coaching career as an assistant at Army in 1964. He then joined the Tennessee coaching staff in 1966 and took over a few years later.

He also served as Alabama’s director of athletics from 2013-2017.

“Bill Battle was first class in every way. He represented the University of Alabama with tremendous character and integrity,” said former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban. “He was an outstanding football player at Alabama, a successful college head coach and a visionary who revolutionized the business of college athletics. I got to know him best when he returned to lead the athletics department at Alabama, where his vision and leadership were instrumental in the Crimson Tide’s success leading to the 2015 national championship. Terry and I are saddened by his death and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Mary and their entire family. We will miss him greatly.”