Former Tennessee football coach and ex-Alabama AD Bill Battle hospitalized with COVID-19

Bill Battle, a former University of Tennessee football coach who played at Alabama and also served as athletics director at his alma mater, has been hospitalized with COVID-19.

Battle, 78, issued a statement on Friday night saying he was “resting comfortably” at UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, where he was being treated for coronavirus.

“I appreciate the prayers and well-wishes from so many, and want to let you know that I’m stable and resting comfortably,” Battle said in a statement released by UA Athletics on Friday night. “I’ve got great doctors and nurses at UAB looking after me and expect to make a full recovery. Time and patience are important in the meantime.”

Battle, who played football for former Crimson Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1960-62, served four years as Alabama’s AD after taking over for the late Mal Moore in 2013. He was treated for multiple myeloma in 2016 but resumed an active lifestyle after chemotherapy.

Battle was the coach at UT from 1970-76, going 59-22-2 and 4-1 in bowl games. He was an assistant coach for the Volunteers from 1966-69.