Founder and Chairman

The Collegiate Licensing Company

Bill Battle is the chairman of The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), the company he founded in 1981. CLC, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is the nation’s oldest and largest marketing agency dedicated to providing domestic and international licensing services to the collegiate market. CLC currently represents more than 200 colleges, universities, bowls, and conferences, as well as the NCAA and The Heisman Trophy. CLC has been instrumental in growing the U.S. retail market for collegiate merchandise from approximately $250 million in 1984 to $2.8 billion in 2004. Since its inception in 1981, CLC has paid its member institutions over $500 million in royalties.

Bill founded the company and served as its president and CEO until 2002 when he turned the day-to-day operations over to his son, Pat. He currently serves as chairman of the board and remains active in CLC and its related businesses.

In addition to his role at CLC, Bill is chairman of the board of Licensing Partners International (LPI). LPI was created in 2001 to represent the licensing interests of non-collegiate sports properties, as well as corporate and entertainment properties. LPI currently represents the Canadian Football League, the PGA TOUR, the Indy Racing League and Churchill Downs Incorporated, among other properties.

LPI’s predecessor company, Battle Enterprises, Inc. (BEI), served as the exclusive licensing representative for NASCAR from 1989-1995, the PGA TOUR from 1994-1997, and Phase I of the Atlanta 1996 Olympics from 1990-1991. Other properties represented by BEI over the years included various U.S. Olympic National Governing Bodies (USA Boxing, Diving, Gymnastics, Rowing, Swimming, and others), and Goodyear Racing.

Prior to starting CLC and Battle Enterprises, Bill held various positions within Circle S Industries, including serving as president of two different companies, as well as vice chairman of the Circle S Holding Company Board.  During these six years, Circle S grew from two companies earning $12 million in annual sales to 10 companies earning $60 million.

Bill’s foundation for CLC began with football.  After a successful playing career at the University of Alabama as a part of Bear Bryant’s first national championship team in 1961, he entered the coaching profession at the University of Oklahoma. From 1964 to 1965, he served a two-year military tour at the United States Military Academy while as an assistant coach.  In 1966 he moved to the University of Tennessee, where he served as an assistant coach for four years until he was named head coach in 1970.

Bill was the first member inducted into the National Collegiate Licensing Assocation Hall of Fame in 2000.  He also was awarded the 2005 Paul W. Bryant Award from the University of Alabama.  He currenlty serves on the boards of Collegiate Images and Birmingham Southern College.  He holds a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama.