Bob Palko Returns as West Allegheny's New Head Football Coach

The legendary coach is coming back to lead the high school team he guided to 8 WPIAL championships and 1 PIAA state title.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Bob Palko, who led the West Allegheny High School football team to 8 WPIAL championships and 1 PIAA state title during his 24-year tenure from 1995 to 2018, is returning as the school's new head coach. Palko, who has an overall career coaching record of 249-87, is second in WPIAL history with 9 championships, trailing only Thomas Jefferson's Bill Cherpak.

Why it matters

Palko's return to West Allegheny is a homecoming for the legendary coach, who had a hugely successful run with the team before retiring in 2018. His ability to build championship-caliber programs and positively influence generations of student-athletes makes him a highly sought-after coach, and his decision to come back to West Allegheny is a major coup for the school's football program.

The details

Palko was officially hired as the West Allegheny head football coach at a school board meeting on Wednesday evening. After retiring from West Allegheny in 2018, Palko had a brief stint as the head coach at Mt. Lebanon High School, leading them to a WPIAL championship and their first-ever PIAA state title in 2021. He then joined the coaching staff at Penn State University as the director of high school relations for football.

  • Palko was the head coach at West Allegheny from 1995 through 2018.
  • Palko retired from coaching in 2018 but returned in 2019 to lead the Mt. Lebanon High School program.
  • Palko joined the Penn State coaching staff in 2022 as the director of high school relations for football.
  • Palko was officially hired as the new West Allegheny head football coach on February 19, 2026.

The players

Bob Palko

A legendary high school football coach who led the West Allegheny High School team to 8 WPIAL championships and 1 PIAA state title during his 24-year tenure from 1995 to 2018. He has an overall career coaching record of 249-87, ranking him second in WPIAL history with 9 championships.

Bill Cherpak

The head football coach at Thomas Jefferson High School, who has won 10 WPIAL championships, the most in WPIAL history.

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What they’re saying

“Home is where the heart is. I'm coming home and maybe people don't understand what that really means. Maybe I took being here for granted before, I don't know. But to be able to come home now at this point. C'mon, man. This is fairy tale stuff.”

— Bob Palko (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

“His impact on generations of athletes goes far beyond wins and losses; he has helped shape their character and supported their success. We look forward to the continued positive influence Coach Palko will have on future players both on and off the field.”

— West Allegheny School Board (West Allegheny School District)

What’s next

The West Allegheny School Board is excited to welcome Coach Palko back to the sidelines and looks forward to the continued positive impact he will have on the team and its players.

The takeaway

Bob Palko's return to West Allegheny as the new head football coach is a homecoming for the legendary coach, who built the program into a consistent championship contender during his previous 24-year tenure. His ability to develop successful teams and positively influence student-athletes makes him a highly sought-after coach, and his decision to come back to West Allegheny is a major win for the school's football program.