Western Reserve Academy is thrilled to welcome Carmen Ptacek as our new Head Coach of the Girls Soccer Program. With a lifetime of experience around the sport and world of coaching, Coach Ptacek is looking forward to joining a community she’s known about since her early days.
Born and raised in Akron, Ptacek was a familiar face on the sidelines at Walsh Jesuit High School, where her father built a storied legacy as the head coach of the varsity boys soccer program. “They actually dedicated the field to him,” she shared, beaming with pride toward one of her earliest role models. For years, she saw the game through the example set at home - one that emphasized mentorship, purpose and love of the game.
“Through him being a high school coach for so long, and seeing the impact he could make on young players, I just loved that you could make an impact and be a positive influence on kids' lives and help them get better at something they love and enjoy doing.”
Now, with a strong coaching resume of her own, Ptacek is ready to bring her passion and experience to Hudson and embed herself within the WRA community.
After great success as a varsity member and captain at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Ptacek’s talents took her to Columbus, where she was a part of the squad at The Ohio State University. In 1993, she was the team’s leading goal scorer. After graduation, she enjoyed a brief professional career as a member of the Cleveland Eclipse before returning into the world of high school and collegiate athletics – this time, at the helm.
Now, Ptacek joins the Pioneers with more than twenty years of experience as an assistant and head coach at the high school level. During this time, her teams have collected five state championships and an additional runner-up finish. Most recently, she served as the assistant coach at Ursuline College, competing in Division II of the NCAA.
With her newest team, Ptacek is prioritizing a balanced approach to leading Reserve’s girls soccer program, one that embraces personal development with shared joy.
“There is definitely a way to have a good and positive culture along with having a successful and winning program. It is something that everyone in the program will have to believe in. You can have a good, fun, safe environment and still compete.”
Stylistically, Ptacek plans to bring a possession-oriented approach to the team, encouraging fluid play, purposeful movement and confidence on the ball. As she succinctly explains, “If you have the ball, you can score. And if you don’t have the ball, you can’t score!” Her coaching philosophy centers teamwork and the belief that all players are essential factors in the team’s success.
And by success, Ptacek is quick to clarify that while winning is part of it, it’s not all of it.
“We play because we love the sport, but we also love to find success. It doesn’t have to mean winning; there are other ways to find success.”
In Ptacek, Director of Athletics Pete Hutchins is confident that our community has gained a passionate mentor and enthusiastic advocate for our athletes. “Her extensive experience, love for the game of soccer and commitment to a holistic student-athlete experience make her the perfect fit to lead our program forward. With her vision and passion, we're confident she will guide our talented team to continued success and help our players excel in every aspect of their time as Pioneers."
Ptacek’s arrival comes at a moment of great excitement – not just at Reserve as we celebrate our Bicentennial, but during a historic surge of support and visibility for women’s sports regionally. With new professional women’s sports teams slated to launch in Cleveland beginning in 2026, she sees this momentum as an inspiring backdrop for the next generation of athletes.
“It’s a great moment in time right now for women’s sports. Right now, the industry is moving toward a new pinnacle. I think the sky is the limit for girls here at Western Reserve Academy who love a sport and want to go on and play it at the next level, and I just think they’re going to have so many more opportunities in the future to become professional athletes.”
For Ptacek, a successful first year at WRA doesn’t just come down to results on the field. In fact, the first thing she mentioned as a key to her own success is getting involved in the community. She’s eager to connect with students and colleagues and acquaint herself with the culture at WRA.
“I’ve known a lot of people who’ve gone to school here. I’ve known other coaches and teachers who have worked here. And everyone I know who has been a part of it has loved it. I’ve always thought it would be a wonderful place to work and to coach.”
With Ptacek, players will find a coach who is always encouraging her players to do the best they can, on the field and off the field. “I hope they walk away feeling they’ve contributed to something greater than themselves, that they have developed and become better soccer players and better people.”
