With interim coach leading the way, North Hills looks for next step

By: Josh Rowntree
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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North Hills’ promising 2024 football season came to a screeching and tumultuous finish last fall.

Following an 8-2 record in the regular season, the Indians secured a home playoff game at Martorelli Stadium.

But, on Tuesday of that playoff game week, North Hills head coach Pat Carey was rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder called cardiac sarcoidosis.

The Indians lost that playoff game in heartbreaking fashion, 17-16, to Franklin Regional.

Now, North Hills will again look to overcome adversity with Carey granted a one-year sabbatical from the sidelines, and defensive coordinator Brody Zangaro serving as the program’s interim head coach.

“I’m definitely excited for the opportunity,” Zangaro said. “Nobody has looked out for me in my football career like Coach Carey has. It’s almost like a mentorship. He’s let me in on things that he’s dealing with, in terms of game planning and parents and head coach type stuff.

“I feel like I’m somewhat prepared, but there’s so much learning that has to take place that you can only really learn when you’re in the job and in charge.”

Carey is on the mend and working with doctors to find a long-term solution for his health. He will be present, at times, around the program, but will not have a coaching role in 2025.

“The big thing is, you just have to be yourself,” said Zangaro, who played under Carey and legendary head coach Jack McCurry at North Hills before competing collegiately at John Carroll. “I can’t try to be Coach Carey. I have to be who I am. I’ve learned so much from him, and it’s going to be super helpful that he’s going to be around so that I can pick his brain on things that I haven’t been through yet.”

His biggest task will be replacing roughly half of the team’s starters from a year ago, including a group of seniors that doubled the program’s win total from their junior to senior seasons.

“That senior class was so special to everyone, including me,” Zangaro said. “They practiced the right way all of the time and played the game the right way. Everything they did was 100%.

“After the season, we had all the seniors stand up. We said that the best thing that they did was show everyone the way to do it. We have no excuse now. We’ve seen the way that you’re supposed to practice, play and treat your teammates.”

Zangaro expects defense to once again pace the Indians. The group held opponents to under 13 points per game last year, losing only to Pine-Richland and Penn Hills in the regular season.

“That goes all the way back to Coach McCurry,” Zangaro said of the defense-first mentality. “We always put such a strong emphasis on defense, and we always say that if we play good defense, we can win any game. We adopt that. If you’re going to play great football, you have to be great defensively. And we’re bringing back a lot of strong kids defensively.”

Leading that group will be a strong player at each level, including nose tackle Jalil McKinley.

“He’s the most unique defensive player — and maybe any player in general — that I’ve ever coached,” added Zangaro. “It’s hard to practice against him, so I know it’s hard to play against him. He’s incredibly undersized, but was a first-team all-conference nose tackle at about 165 pounds. If you ask any of those other coaches, they’ll say that he was the biggest pain to try to block.”

In the secondary, Josiah Mathis will look to receive first-team all-conference honors for a third time at the cornerback position, while Joey Lutz — who led the team with 103 tackles and six sacks last year — will anchor the linebacker group.

Offensively, the Indians return senior Kelly McCarthy at quarterback for his second straight year as the starter.

“This will be Kelly’s second lap around the track,” Zangaro said. “He’s only going to be that much better. He’s a really unique player. He can run and throw the ball. He’s returned punts for us in the past. He’s just an athlete.

“And he’s a super smart kid. He has above a 4.0 GPA. So he’s incredibly talented both mentally and physically. I’m excited to see what he does this year. He’s a fantastic competitor.”

Zangaro is optimistic about the depth of the backfield with Israel Armstead and Johnell Edison. At receiver, Mathis and Jack Broderick will give McCarthy weapons on the outside, while Lutz will play tight end.

“He’s an incredible player and a great athlete,” Zangaro said of Lutz. “He’s big, fast and strong. He can do things in the run game, but we can get him the ball, too. He poses some matchup problems. We’re in an era where you don’t see tight ends used as often, but he can be a weapon for us.”

One area that will have to jell in preseason camp is the offensive line. The Indians return only one starter from that group in Alex Brackman.

“We have to stay ahead of the sticks,” added Zangaro. “If we do that, we’re in advantageous situations. The offensive line is a work in progress. When you get in third and long, it puts those guys in a bad situation. If we can continue to just get positive plays offensively, and get the ball in the hands of our playmakers, we can let their talent take over.”

North Hills went 5-0 in its nonconference schedule last year, but was certainly challenged by either strong programs or schools playing at a higher classification.

Zangaro’s hope is that the rigorous nonconference slate will prepare them for Class 5A’s Northeast Conference, which includes Fox Chapel, Plum, Shaler, Penn Hills and defending WPIAL Class 5A champion Pine-Richland.

“The defending WPIAL champion is in our conference,” Zangaro said. “They’re been there three or four years in a row and won a state title. That’s what we’re shooting for. That’s where you have to. If you’re playing good enough to compete with them, you’re doing things right, because they do an outstanding job.”

North Hills

Coach: Brody Zangaro

2024 record: 8-3, 3-2 in Class 5A Northeast Conference

All-time record: 524-332-27

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Hempfield , 7

8.29 at Seneca Valley, 7

9.5 Mars, 7

9.12 Pine-Richland*, 7

9.19 at Fox Chapel*, 7

9.26 Norwin, 7

10.3 at Plum*, 7

10.10 Shaler*, 7

10.17 at Penn Hills*, 7

10.24 Central Valley, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Kelly McCarthy

95-186, 1,074 yards, 12 TDs

Rushing: Jack Martin*

118-538 yards, 5 TDs

Receiving: Josiah Mathis

12-248 yards, 3 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• The eight wins in 2024 were the most for North Hills since going 10-2 in 2010, the last year the Indians scored a postseason win.

• Zangaro was an all-conference defensive back at John Carroll after playing for the Indians in the late 2000’s.

• Following time away from work, Carey has been cleared by doctors to return to his job as a physical education teacher for the North Hills school district this fall. His son, Ryan, is now playing as a freshman on the Robert Morris football team.

Tags: North Hills