Former Vol football head coach dies

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Former Tennessee football coach Bill Battle passed away at the age of 82.

Battle, who coached Phillip Fulmer at UT, led the Volunteers for seven seasons from 1970-76.

His record with the Vols was 59-22-2 with four bowl wins in five bowl trips.

Battle, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, played end for the Crimson Tide from 1960-62.

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma under legendary coach Bud Wilkinson.

Battle’s first coaching job came when he was hired as an assistant at Army in 1964.

His next stop was Tennessee where he was brought on as ends coach in 1966.

Battle would later serve as athletics director at his alma mater from 2013-2017.