Charlie Pravata, the Mariners' former Head Football Coach, was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Recruiting and Retention following the 2002 football season.

In his 12 years at the helm of the Mariners' football program, Pravata directed his teams to an overall record of 66-47-2, en route to becoming the Academy's all-time winningest football coach. Pravata's teams made five post-season appearances and, in 1994, the Mariners were invited to the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time in the program's history after compiling a 7-2 regular season record and a share of the Freedom Football Conference Title (5-0 record). In his final season at the helm in 2002, the Mariners went 8-3 and appeared in the ECAC South Atlantic Championship. Pravata started at USMMA on a part-time basis as a head scout in 1982 and 1983. He was also the Head Baseball Coach at Kings Point for two seasons.

Pravata earned an Associate of Liberal Arts Degree in 1969 at Taft Junior College in California. While attending Taft, he started for two seasons at fullback for the Cougars. He then enrolled at Adelphi University where he started for two years at linebacker. Pravata earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education in 1972 from Adelphi and a Master's Degree in Physical Education from Brooklyn College in 1976.

Pravata resides in Levittown, N.Y. and has three sons: Chris, Chuck, and Craig.