Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame

BILL BATTLE (Deceased November 28, 2024 at age 82) was not just the founder of the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), he was arguably the founder of the concept of collegiate licensing itself. In 1981, upon signing legendary University of Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant to a licensing agreement, Battle had to first help the school make a licensing department in which to work. From there, the CLC was born. Battle was a visionary who understood strength and efficiency in numbers. Using a model similar to the NFL’s, Battle went door-to-door convincing administrators of a vision where all trademarks were regulated and available in one place. According to Battle, schools, licensees and retailers would all benefit if they just joined together.

Battle’s vision became a reality and collegiate licensing became a $4.3 billion industry. He was able to develop the first label that signified “officially licensed collegiate products.” Under Battle’s guidance, the CLC grew to represent more than 200 schools, conferences and bowl games, as well as NASCAR and the PGA Tour. However, he never strayed from his passion for college sports, because Bill Battle also made himself famous as a college head coach. At 29, Battle was the youngest college head coach in the country while at the University of Tennessee from 1970-1976. Battle played for Bear Bryant at Alabama and started on his first national championship team in 1961 and was also one of his assistant coaches. He returned to the school as its athletic director from 2013-17.

Battle was recognized for his tremendous leadership capabilities, and the large impact he had on all facets of the sporting goods industry, by several organizations throughout his career. He received a National Football Foundation award in 2008 for Outstanding Contributions to Amateur Football. In 2010, Battle was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators’ (NACMA) Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Battle was one of the most quietly influential figures in college athletics at the time of his induction and was working as CLC’s chairman and adviser, where he was still essential to client relations. In fact, athletic directors still respected and called upon him, whether they had a question about business or they were looking to hire a position, because Battle was the go-to guy. 

Please note: This biography was produced from the nominating materials in the candidate’s nominating year, so the information is not current.