The Shaler Area School Board of Directors has named Carlo Prati as the next head coach of the Shaler Area High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer program. The appointment marks the arrival of a proven soccer coach with a championship record, encompassing more than a decade of experience at both the high school and club levels, and a deep connection to the Shaler Area community.
Prati comes to Shaler from Fox Chapel High School, where he served as Girls’ Varsity Head Coach since 2022 and built one of the most successful programs in Western Pennsylvania over a remarkably short period of time. In just four seasons at the helm, he compiled an overall record of 61-19-6 and guided the Lady Foxes to three consecutive WPIAL championship or finals appearances. His tenure produced three consecutive WPIAL finals appearances from 2023–2025, including the 2023 WPIAL 4A Championship and the 2025 WPIAL 3A Championship, and Fox Chapel reached the PIAA Quarterfinals in each of those championship seasons. In 2024, the program captured its second straight WPIAL 3A Section 1 title and advanced to the WPIAL 3A final as runners-up — a testament to the program’s consistency under his leadership. That sustained excellence earned Prati recognition as the 2023 BIG 56/WPIAL 4A Section 1 Coach of the Year, an honor awarded by his peers across the conference.
Before assuming the head coaching role at Fox Chapel, Prati spent four seasons there as JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant, a period during which the program made deep postseason runs including a WPIAL 4A Semifinal appearance in 2021. His résumé also extends well beyond the high school sidelines. He holds a U.S. Soccer National D Coaching License and has spent years working with youth and club programs throughout the region, including Beadling SC and Century North, developing players at every level of the game.
His coaching philosophy is built around accountability, player-centered development, and cultivating positive, lasting relationships with athletes and their families — a culture-first approach that has clearly translated into results. Shaler Area Superintendent Dr. Bryan O’Black expressed enthusiasm about what Prati will bring to the program. “Mr. Prati is committed to developing a strong program culture, maintaining high expectations for student-athletes, and fostering long-term growth within a program,” Dr. O’Black said. “Mr. Prati’s proven leadership, championship-level coaching experience, and commitment to student-athlete development will make him an excellent choice to lead the Shaler Area Girls’ Soccer program. We look forward to the continued success and growth of our girls’ soccer program under his leadership.”
For Prati, this appointment is more than a professional opportunity — it is a homecoming. A Titan himself, Prati played for Shaler Area High School from 1996 to 2003 and went on to play collegiately at Point Park University, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Video Production. He also served as a JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant at Shaler Area from 2014 to 2018, giving him direct familiarity with the program, the school, and the community he will now lead. “This opportunity means a lot to me personally,” Prati said. “As an alumnus and someone who lives in the community, Shaler has always been home. The coaches and mentors here had a big impact on me growing up, and having the chance to give back in that same way is really special. I take a lot of pride in representing this community and helping the next generation of Shaler Area athletes develop not just as players, but as people.”
With a championship resume, deep roots in the community, and a clear vision for what a successful program looks like, Coach Prati arrives at Shaler Area ready to build something lasting. He expressed, “I’m really excited about the opportunity to build a culture where players work hard, support each other, and take pride in representing their school and community. I’m also looking forward to continuing the tradition of Shaler Area athletics and helping these athletes reach their full potential.”