William R. “Bill” Battle is Special Assistant to the University of Alabama President. In his current role, Battle assists University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell in a variety of initiatives that benefit both the University and the Department of Athletics. He recently completed a four-year tenure as Director of Athletics at The University of Alabama.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Battle attended The University of Alabama on a football scholarship and enjoyed a successful playing career as a three-year starter at end for the Crimson Tide under legendary head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1960-62. Battle was a member of Bryant’s first national championship team in 1961. He was named first-team tight end and second-team defensive end on The University of Alabama All-Decade Team of the 1960s, a decade in which the Crimson Tide won three national championships.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and minor in psychology from The University of Alabama in 1963 and a master’s degree in education from The University of Oklahoma in 1964.
He coached at The University of Oklahoma, while working as a graduate assistant and worked as an assistant coach for the United States Military Academy while fulfilling a military commitment. He joined The University of Tennessee as head coach at the age of 28.
After seven years as coach at Tennessee, he left to launch and lead a number of companies that have helped universities license logos, slogans, and other intellectual property. One of those companies, Circle S Industries, grew from two companies earning $12 million in annual sales to 10 companies earning $60 million annually under Battle’s leadership.
However, the call of his alma mater proved strong and Battle joined The University of Alabama in 2013 to direct athletic operations. Battle’s vision for Crimson Tide Athletics impacted the department in numerous ways over his four-year term, particularly in recruiting top student-athletes and preparing them for life after graduation, revitalizing fundraising efforts, and leading efforts to redevelop stadiums, athletic facilities, and public plazas.
During Battle’s tenure, Alabama produced three NCAA team national championships; 11 SEC team championships; 17 NCAA individual champions; 40 Academic All-Americans; and 21 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship awardees.
A 1981 inductee into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Battle was inducted as the first member of the charter class of the National Collegiate Licensing Association Hall of Fame in 2000. He was the recipient of the 2005 Paul W. Bryant Alumni Athlete Award at The University of Alabama and was inducted into the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
Furthermore, he has been honored and celebrated by the National Football Foundation, National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators, the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Battle serves as chairman of the board for The Collegiate Licensing Company, which he founded in 1981, and is now led by his son Pat. He has also served as chairman, among other roles, of Licensing Partners International and Circle S Holding Company.
In May of 2017, Battle received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from The University of Alabama and an Honorary Doctor of Law from Birmingham Southern College for his enormous impact on higher education in the state and nation.
He also serves on the boards of the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Foundation, The University of Alabama A-Club Educational & Charitable Foundation, the Crimson Tide Foundation, and the National Football Foundation.
He and his wife Mary serve as part of UAB’s Stem Cell Institute Board and are active in their support of UAB’s Department of Rheumatology. In addition to their oldest son Pat, they have another son, Mike, and daughters, Shannon and Kayla.
