The University of Alabama announced today that athletic director Mal Moore has died. Coach Moore, 73, passed away at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., where he was being treated for a recent illness.
Bill Battle was appointed to replace Moore as athletic director. Appearing on WJOX last week, Battle said Moore was awaiting a lung transplant.
Moore was part of 10 national championships in football, more than anyone else associated with the university, and served as AD over more national championships in gymnastics, softball and women’s golf.
As a back up quarterback on Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s first national championship team in 1961, Moore won his first ring. He was an assistant under Bryant when he collected five more rings in 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, and 1979 while rising to the position of offensive coordinator. After stops at Notre Dame and the NFL, Moore returned as OC for Gene Stallings and helped lead Alabama to the 1992 national championship. After hiring Nick Saban to lead the Crimson Tide, Moore has been a part three more championships in the last four years.
Moore is credited with leading the to drive to improve athletic and academic facilities which are now considered among the best in the country
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Alabama football coach Nick Saban offered the following statement thru the university.
“Mal was truly a special person in every sense of the word. We can talk about all the championships Mal has been involved with, but I think what will be remembered most was the man he was. He always put the best interests of others ahead of his own, he carried himself as a first-class gentleman, and he helped bring out the best in those around him.
“Mal was an outstanding leader in terms of all he did for Alabama athletics. Most importantly, he was a great friend to me and my family. Mal was the number one reason we decided to make the move to Tuscaloosa.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his daughter Heather. There’s no question we have lost a great man today. What won’t be lost is Mal’s legacy in serving our University to make it a better place today and in the future. Nobody genuinely cared more about the Crimson Tide than Mal did. Mal has positively impacted athletics at Alabama unlike anyone ever has or probably ever will.”
The University said more details would be released as they become available.
More on Coach Moore’s passing from Cecil Hurt of The Tuscaloosa News.