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Top Ten Celina Sports Stories of 2012: 4. Following two legends: Celina begins new era under Elliott
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
When G.A. Moore handed the head coaching duties to Butch Ford in 2002, a tough task was in store for Moore's longtime assistant at Celina.
Ford, then the team's defensive coordinator, was given the responsibility of replacing a living legend in a football-centered town that had won five state championships in a seven-year span.
Former offensive coordinator Bill Elliott now finds himself in a similar position after being named Celina's new head coach after Ford's May 15 resignation.
After replacing Moore a decade ago, Ford quickly carved out his own niche as he reached 100 wins faster than any head football coach in Texas history (113 games) despite the Bobcats moving up to Class 3A in his first season.
Elliott will look for similar results after taking over a team that won 11 straight games last season before a 42-19 loss to Henderson in the regional finals ended Celina's season.
"We've got a great group of young men back," Elliott said. "They work hard and will always compete."
Elliott will also take over as athletic director at Celina, a position that was also held by Ford.
Superintendent Donny O'Dell said the Bobcats couldn't have found a better coach to follow Ford's tenure.
"We could have searched the entire United States and not found someone as qualified," he said. "He has been doing the job since coach Ford resigned on May 15."
Elliott is a graduate of Texas Christian University, where he played on the Horned Frogs football team. In high school, the new Bobcats head coach played just down the road from Celina under Moore and Ford at Pilot Point.
"I've tried to learn as much as I can from [Moore and Ford] and use those things myself," Elliott said.
After graduating from TCU, Elliott joined the Bobcats in 1993 for his first coaching job and has been with the orange and white ever since.
"I never felt like my ego was that big that I had to be the head coach somewhere," Elliott said. "I've always liked it [in Celina]."
With such a history at Celina, Elliott was the clear candidate to become the team's new head coach after Ford stepped down last month.
The Celina school board unanimously approved the hiring at a specially-called meeting two weeks ago. O'Dell said the district bylaws require the position to be posted for 10 days and coach Elliott's application was the only one received during that time.
"[Elliott] exemplifies the character and qualities that Celina ISD and the community of Celina strive to obtain in its athletic as well as academic programs," he said in his recommendation letter to the board of directors.
Although Bobcats fans may notice several minor changes in the immediate future, Elliott said the primary style of football at Celina will remain the same.
"I'll do some things different," he said. "Obviously I have a few different ideas and some different things I'll try but the basics will stay the same."
When Elliott begins his era as head coach, a rare situation exists that will see the former offensive coordinator's son behind center as starting quarterback.
Nathan Elliott, a freshman last year, won the starting job early in the season and showed improvements throughout the year as the leader of the offense.
"A lot of people don't understand how special of a situation that is," Elliott said. "I've got a great relationship with my two boys and it's such a neat time in our lives to be able to share that."
Elliott will get a good look at Celina's returning pieces during a host 7-on-7 tournament on Saturday at Old Celina Park. The Bobcats will be one of 16 teams competing in the event.
"We've got to find several replacements on the line and we need to replace several pieces on defense," Elliott said.
If history is any indication, the Bobcats should be set at one position – the team's head coach – for a while.
"Celina is a different place and a different culture," Elliott said. "It's so special here."
When the Bobcats begin their new season in the fall, the team will be in search of its first state title since 2007.
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