University of Massachusets Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
Alma Mater: Western Michigan '15
Season at Massachusetts: Second
Donald Celiscar enters his second season at UMass after joining the Minutemen in 2025 as cornerbacks coach. He arrived in Amherst following three seasons at Western Michigan, where he also coached the cornerbacks.
At Western Michigan, Celiscar coached multiple all-conference defensive backs, including Keni-H Lovely, a two-time All-MAC selection who signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent, and Bilhal Kone, who earned invitations to both the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl. During his tenure, the Broncos earned a bowl berth and finished 5-3 in MAC play in 2024.
Before Western Michigan, Celiscar spent the 2021 season as associate head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Lake Erie College. He led one of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's top defenses while coaching multiple all-conference performers.
Celiscar also served as defensive backs coach at Montana State-Northern in 2020 after two seasons as a graduate assistant at Minnesota. There, he worked with unanimous All-American and 2020 NFL Draft second-round selection Antoine Winfield Jr. while helping the Gophers improve from No. 51 nationally in passing defense in 2018 to No. 9 in 2019.
A standout defensive back at Western Michigan from 2011-14, Celiscar started 40 games and finished his career with 10 interceptions, 45 pass breakups and 247 tackles. A First Team All-MAC selection as a senior, he also earned second-team honors in 2013 and third-team recognition in 2012 after leading the nation in passes defended per game during his final season.
Following his collegiate career, Celiscar participated in the 2015 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, earned an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine and spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
A native of Winter Haven, Florida, Celiscar earned a bachelor's degree in recreation with a minor in business from Western Michigan in 2015 and is pursuing a master's degree in youth development leadership from Minnesota.
