"Terry & I are saddened by his passing": Heartbroken Nick Saban pays a touching tribute to Alabama's former athletics director Bill Battle 

Bill Battle, the former athletic director for the Alabama Crimson Tide, has passed away. His death was announced on Thursday.

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has paid tribute to his former AD with the following message.

"Bill Battle was first class in every way," Saban said. "He represented The University of Alabama with tremendous character and integrity. He was an outstanding football player at Alabama, a successful collegiate head coach and visionary who revolutionized the business of college athletics."

"I got to know him best when he returned to direct the Alabama athletics department where his vision and leadership were driving factors in the Crimson Tide’s success that resulted in our 2015 national championship. Terry and I are saddened by his passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Mary and their entire family. He will be deeply missed."

Battle was Alabama's athletic director from 2013 to 2017. Saban's football program had a dominant run, winning two national championships and making the CFP four times.

However, not just the football team had success during this period. Battle saw 10 SEC Championship wins in five separate sports.

This success is being kept up by current AD Greg Bryant, who paid his respects to his predecessor:

"Forever grateful for the friendship Coach Battle and I built over the years," Bryant said. "He was an incredible man and visionary in our industry. We will miss him tremendously and are praying for Mary, Pat, Mike, Shannon, Kayla, and the entire Battle family."

Bill Battle's career and contribution to College Football

Bill Battle's College Football career began in 1960 when he played for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He played tight end under legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Battle was part of the team that won the 1961 national championship, the first of six championships Bryant would win as a coach.

Battle then entered coaching. He started as an assistant coach for the Army but returned to the SEC and led the Tennessee Volunteers from 1970 to 1976.

While he could never take the Volunteers to a national championship, he led them to bowl games in five of his seven seasons with the program and had a record of 59-22-2.

However, Battle was involved with college sports from a management and business perspective. In 1981, he founded the Collegiate Licensing Company, which ensures that collectible items for college and university games, NCAA games, bowl games, etc., are genuine.