Celina police say they cannot pursue a 1995 misconduct allegation against former Celina High School coach Bill Elliott because the statute of limitations has expired.
The Texas Education Agency recently completed administrative action that permanently revoked Elliott’s educator certificate.
A TEA investigator contacted the Celina Police Department on November 12, 2025, regarding an allegation of criminal misconduct dating back to 1995. A detective spoke with the reporting party, who confirmed sharing the allegation with TEA but said it was never reported in 1995, authorities said.
“After reviewing the available information and considering the applicable statute of limitations, it was determined that a criminal investigation could not be pursued,” the department said Thursday. Police provided no additional information and asked the public to respect the reporting party’s privacy.
Elliott’s team won the 2024 Class 4A Division I state championship before he was placed on administrative leave in October 2025 after his son Caleb was arrested. Elliott finished with a 150-38 record as the Bobcats’ head coach. He also took Celina to the state title game in 2015 and the state semifinals in 2014. As an assistant, he was part of seven additional state championship teams and one state finalist.
Bill Elliot reportedly agreed to surrender his teaching certificate in lieu of a TEA investigation into the alleged misconduct and has been placed on the state’s Do Not Hire list.
“It is the District’s understanding from TEA that Mr. Elliott’s action is not an admission of guilt; rather, it reflects the fact that he has retired from public education and has no interest in incurring the additional legal expense of dealing with any potential litigation in this matter,” Celina ISD said in a statement to WFAA.
The district said it was not aware of the allegation at the time that Elliot resigned amid the scandal involving his son.
Caleb Elliott, 26, a former Celina ISD middle school football coach and substitute teacher, faces multiple state and federal charges tied to secretly recording boys in a Moore Middle School locker room. He faces charges including invasive visual recording, possession and promotion of child pornography, and sexual performance of a child. Police say 38 boys were allegedly victimized between spring and fall 2025.
Bill Elliott announced his retirement in January 2026 amid heightened scrutiny of the district’s handling of Caleb Elliott’s hiring and supervision. Civil lawsuits have accused him and other district officials of ignoring warning signs about Caleb Elliott’s behavior.
A third-party report noted that Bill Elliott pressured a middle school principal to hire Caleb Elliott despite her reservations. Investigators found no evidence that Bill Elliott knew about or failed to report his son’s alleged crimes. An external investigation found no evidence that district employees knew of or ignored prior misconduct, though parents and lawmakers have questioned the district’s oversight.
The report detailed concerns about Caleb Elliott’s hiring, including interactions involving his father, then-athletic director Bill Elliott, and school administrators. Witnesses told investigators they feared retaliation for speaking up, adding to community frustration.
Caleb Elliott surrendered his teaching license and remains in jail on multiple federal charges.
