Celina ISD has named Marc Bindel as the district’s new head football coach, following the retirement of his predecessor two months ago.
The district announced the hiring on Tuesday after more than two months of searching in the wake of a child sexual abuse scandal that shook the community.
Bindel will take on roles as both head coach and athletic coordinator. School officials said he will meet with players, coaches, and staff soon and receive a formal welcome at the March 30 school board meeting.
Celina ISD’s previous athletic director and head football coach, Bill Elliott, announced his departure in January 2026. The move followed the arrest of his son, Caleb Elliott, a football coach charged with multiple counts of child sexual abuse involving middle school students. Bill Elliott had been on paid, non-disciplinary leave during a related investigation into the school and staff.
The district now looks to Bindel and its newly appointed athletic director, Brent Whitson, to refocus on football. Whitson started on Monday.
Bindel brings more than a decade of coaching experience. He previously served as head football coach and campus coordinator in Wichita Falls ISD, posting 99 career wins, 16 straight playoff appearances, and 21 playoff victories.
“His ability to build community throughout the athletic programs he has led, his commitment to developing young men and women in all sports, and his sustained success all align perfectly with our expectations for Bobcat Athletics,” Celina ISD Superintendent Tom Maglisceau said in a statement.
“Coach Bindel is a proven leader who understands how to build and sustain excellence across an entire athletic program,” Whitson said.
Bindel said he’s honored to join Celina and is “passionate about developing student-athletes into outstanding adults.”
“I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to get to work in Celina,” Bindel added.
