Former Celina ISD athletic director surrendered teaching license amid state investigation

Celina, Texas – Bill Elliott, who served for years as Celina Independent School District’s athletic director and head football coach, has voluntarily surrendered his Texas teaching license while the Texas Education Agency pursued a misconduct claim dating to the mid-1990s.

District officials confirmed that Elliott relinquished the credential on March 20, bringing the agency’s inquiry to a close. The complaint centers on conduct alleged to have occurred during Elliott’s tenure as a classroom teacher in or around 1995. A TEA spokesperson said the matter is considered complete because the surrendered license constitutes the final sanction.

Celina ISD emphasized in a brief statement that Elliott’s decision “is not an admission of guilt,” adding that the veteran coach opted against prolonged litigation to avoid mounting legal costs.

The development follows Elliott’s January announcement that he would retire immediately. The move came while law-enforcement officials continued a separate criminal investigation into his son, Caleb Elliott, the district’s former Moore Middle School football coach, who faces charges of child exploitation and possession of child pornography. Bill Elliott had been on paid administrative leave since October, when district and police investigators first questioned Caleb Elliott.

An independent review commissioned by the school board found no evidence that Bill Elliott or any other employee had prior knowledge of the alleged offenses. That same review did conclude, however, that the longtime athletic director “exercised wide-ranging influence” over district hiring practices during his leadership tenure.

Neither Elliott nor his attorney has responded to requests for additional comment. Celina ISD says it is now reviewing policies and procedures to ensure student safety and administrative transparency moving forward.