King Philip’s new softball coach is already a familiar face in the Warriors’ dugout.
Clara Pereira, who has coached in the KP program for the past four seasons, has been named the new varsity head coach of the defending Division 2 state champions.
Pereira replaces Kate Fallon-Comeau, who retired after leading King Philip to the state title last spring. The Warriors went 22-5 and outscored their tournament opponents 60-1 on the way to the championship.
 GAME RECAPKing Philip Caps Dominant Playoff Run With D2 State TitleRead Recap → |  PHOTO GALLERYSoftball Photos: King Philip vs. Somerset BerkleyView Photos → |
A former Franklin captain, Pereira (née DeCarvalho) was KP’s JV head coach in 2023 and 2024 before spending the last two seasons as a varsity assistant alongside Fallon-Comeau.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the next head coach of the King Philip varsity softball program,” Pereira said. “I want to thank Athletic Director Derek Phinney and the King Philip administration for this opportunity, my family for their unwavering support, and Coach Kate (Fallon-Comeau) for her mentorship and guidance.
“Having spent the past four seasons with this program, I am grateful for the incredible coaches, players, and families who have made it so special. I look forward to building upon the tradition of excellence while developing successful athletes, confident leaders, great teammates, and, most importantly, good people. The standard has been set, and I cannot wait to get to work. Go Warriors!”
After graduating from Franklin in 2017, Pereira played Division 3 softball at Wheaton College in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and graduated in 2021.
She was a graduate assistant at Clark in 2021-22 and an assistant at Tufts in 2022-23, then returned to Clark as an assistant from 2024 to 2025.
Pereira has been head of softball operations at Next9Up since 2021. She runs youth camps and clinics, gives private lessons and oversees the Bluebirds club program, which has teams from 8U through 18U. She currently coaches the Bluebirds’ 12U team.
She also spent four seasons coaching an 18U showcase team for the Mass Drifters with legendary softball coach Carol Savino, who passed away in 2025. Pereira called Savino one of her greatest mentors.
Clara Pereira takes over a King Philip softball program with a championship tradition spanning multiple generations. The Warriors won Division 1 state titles in 2010, 2011 and 2016 before adding the Division 2 crown in 2026. That latest championship marked the program’s fourth state title and its first in a decade, giving Pereira an opportunity to build on a proud history.
King Philip’s latest title came in emphatic fashion. The Warriors finished 22-5 and outscored their postseason opponents 60-1, closing the tournament with a 14-1 victory over Somerset Berkley. According to the MIAA’s championship recap, KP captured the title in its first season competing in Division 2. The Warriors had also reached the Division 1 championship game in 2024.
The championship capped Kate Fallon-Comeau’s final season leading the Warriors. King Philip finished second in the Kelley-Rex division while preparing for the postseason against a demanding schedule. The Warriors’ success earned recognition in the 2026 HockomockSports Softball Awards, with Fallon-Comeau named Coach of the Year and pitcher McCoy Walsh selected as Player of the Year.
Clara Pereira brings experience from both the high school and college levels to her new role. Before joining King Philip’s varsity staff, she led the Warriors’ JV team for two seasons. A former Franklin captain, she continued her playing career at Wheaton College and later coached at Clark and Tufts. Her background also includes extensive work developing youth and club softball players.
Fans can follow the Warriors and their Hockomock League opponents through the HockomockSports softball schedules. As Pereira begins her tenure, her four seasons within the program provide a connection to the players, coaches and expectations that helped shape King Philip’s latest championship run and will inform its next chapter on the field.
