Bill Battle Hospitalized With COVID-19

Former Alabama Athletic Director, Bill Battle, has been hospitalized due to COVID-19. In a public statement he said he is expecting to make a full recovery, he is undergoing treatment and observation at UAB in Birmingham. Battle served as athletic director at the Capstone from 2013-17.

Battle was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and underwent stem cell treatments in 2016 while still serving as Alabama's athletic director.

Battle played for Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant from 1960-62 before going into coaching. He was an assistant at Army and Tennessee before being promoted to head coach at Tennessee in 1970. While coaching the Volunteers, Battle had a record of 59-22-2.

He started his own company, The Collegiate Licensing Company and signed Coach Bryant as his first client in 1981.

He was selected to take over for longtime athletic director Mal Moore when he left the job due to health reasons. Battle gave up the position to Greg Byrne.

We wish Coach Battle a quick and smooth recovery.