Head Coach Placed On Leave After Son's Criminal Investigation

Bill Elliott, head football coach and athletic director at Celina High School in Texas, has been placed on paid, non-disciplinary administrative leave by the Celina Independent School District (CISD). The leave is “non-disciplinary” in nature, meaning the action doesn’t imply any direct allegation of misconduct against Elliott himself. Rather, the district says the leave is a precautionary move designed to avoid any potential interference with ongoing investigations related to his son, Caleb Elliott.

The investigation centers on Caleb Elliott, a former teacher and coach at CISD, who was first arrested for alleged invasive visual recording in a middle school boys’ locker room—an incident said to have taken place during his tenure at Moore Middle School. He was then arrested again on additional charges, including possession or promotion of child pornography.

Because Bill Elliott is both his son’s father and the athletics director for the district, CISD hired an independent third-party investigator and followed their recommendation to place Bill Elliott on leave, “in an abundance of caution.” The move is meant to preserve the integrity of the investigations and ensure no conflict of interest arises. The district explicitly stated that Bill Elliott is not accused of any wrongdoing at this time.

The situation has generated significant turmoil for the Celina football community. Bill Elliott had led the Bobcats to a perfect 16-0 season and a Class 4A Division I state championship in 2024. With the program under scrutiny and a lawsuit underway alleging the district ignored earlier warning signs about Caleb Elliott’s behavior, the spotlight is now on how CISD handles staff conduct and oversight in its athletic programs.