Former Tide Standout, Coach ‘Brother’ Bill Oliver Dead At 85
College Football Legend “Brother” Bill Oliver Passes Away
TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama community mourns the loss of Bill “Brother” Oliver, a revered figure in college football and a cherished member of the Crimson Tide family, who passed away Monday morning after enduring prolonged health challenges. Born in Epes, Alabama, in 1939, Oliver’s football journey began as a defensive back under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1959 to 1961, culminating in a national championship in 1961. Over his career, he earned four additional national championship rings—three as an assistant coach under Bryant in the 1970s and one with Gene Stallings in 1992.
After an initial coaching stint at high schools, Oliver joined Auburn University’s staff as a defensive backs coach in 1966. He returned to Alabama in 1971 before taking a head coaching position at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he achieved a 29-14-1 record from 1971 to 1983. His coaching career spanned multiple teams, including the Memphis Showboats and Clemson, where he was elevated to defensive coordinator in 1989.
In 1990, Oliver returned to Alabama as a key defensive contributor, helping shape the squad that won the 1992 national championship. Although he was reportedly promised the head coach position at Alabama, he later joined Terry Bowden’s staff at Auburn, serving briefly as interim head coach in 1998 before retiring from coaching. Oliver was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Funeral arrangements are pending.
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