The conclusion of the fall 2024 football season marked a significant achievement for the Celina Bobcats as they brought home the much-coveted State Championship trophy after a 17-year drought. Coach Bill Elliott, who is in his 32nd year as the head football coach and athletic director for the Bobcats, has played a pivotal role in this success. As the team prepares for the 2025 season, we took the opportunity to ask Coach Elliott to reflect on this remarkable accomplishment.
“Winning the State Championship was an incredible achievement, but I cannot take full credit for it,” explains Coach Elliott. “I want everyone to understand that this victory is a collective effort—a team accomplishment, a staff accomplishment, and a community accomplishment. For every award I have received this year, I don’t view it as solely my accomplishment; it represents the hard work of the entire team, all the coaches, and the community." He highlights the various parent and booster organizations that contributed, such as the Quarterback Club and Bobcat Moms, along with the support from the band, cheerleaders, and drill team. "It truly takes the entire community to foster the atmosphere of high expectations and success that exists in Celina."
Coach Elliott recounted how, as the state championship game at Texas Stadium came to a close, he turned to look into the stands and was met with the sight of 20,000 fans dressed in orange, white, and grey. It was an incredible scene; it felt like the entire town had come out to support the team. Such overwhelming support is not something to take for granted, nor can it be manufactured overnight. It must be woven into the very fabric of the community.
Coach Elliott was honored with the G.A. Moore Coach of the Year Award by the North Texas Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in March. This award is the highest recognition Coach Elliott has received in his career. Coach Moore has been a lifelong mentor to him, having introduced Coach Elliott to the FCA during his junior high years and encouraging him to attend FCA camp that summer. It was at this camp, in 8th grade, that Elliott accepted Christ as his Savior. He credits Coach Moore with showing him what it means to be a Christian man and has modeled much of his coaching style and parenting approach after the influence of Coach Moore.
This was the second year the G.A. Moore Coach of the Year award was presented. In its inaugural year, it was awarded to Coach Brian Brazil, one of the state's most renowned high school football coaches. Coach Brazil and Coach Elliott played football together at TCU, and he was a mentor and friend in the coaching world. “It was a special privilege to turn the trophy and see Brian's name above mine,” Coach Elliott explained.
Coach Elliott has been involved with the leadership of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) since he first started coaching. He is dedicated to sharing the message of Jesus Christ with his staff and student-athletes. His mission is to instill what he refers to as the “four pillars” in the lives of the young men around him. These pillars are excellence, empathy, integrity, and grit. He sets a high standard for character and work ethic within his teams, which has not only led to years of strong football teams but also to generations of men who are valuable pillars in their communities, churches, and families.
The 2025 high school football season is just around the corner, and Coach Elliott, along with his staff and sons Nathan and Caleb Elliott, is busy with summer conditioning, team building, and game planning. The team is starting off strong with 25 returning lettermen, including quarterback Beau Bentley and linebacker/safety Luke Biagini. Coach Elliott explains, "These experiences build on one another. The 2024 team bought into everything we asked them to do. They worked hard and loved each other. That establishes a solid foundation of effort and camaraderie for the 2025 team. I saw this with the back-to-back state wins in the 1990s."
If Coach Elliott has one soft spot, it’s his granddaughter, Ember. Nathan and his wife, Berkley, brought joy to the Elliott family by welcoming the first girl. Ember has her grandfather wrapped around her little finger, and he loves it when Berkley brings her to the office. He often jokes that she’s tall and is destined to be an athlete. You can hear the smile in his voice when he talks about her. Coach is eager to start the season and can’t wait to see Ember in her orange and white, cheering for the Bobcats.
It truly takes the entire community to foster the atmosphere of high expectations and success that exists in Celina.
I want everyone to understand that this victory is a collective effort—a team accomplishment, a staff accomplishment, and a community accomplishment.