Last Updated on September 22, 2026 by Laurinda Jocias
Jason Shokalook is an American professional soccer player whose family made significant sacrifices to help him pursue the sport. Born on September 30, 2002, in Erie, Pennsylvania, the forward developed through local youth soccer and the Internationals Academy in Ohio before becoming a standout at the University of Akron. After being selected by Chicago Fire in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, he developed into one of MLS NEXT Pro’s most prolific scorers and joined Real Salt Lake in September 2026.
Jason is the son of Mark Shokalook and Carrie Shokalook. His father was both a soccer player and one of Jason’s earliest coaches, while his mother spent years driving enormous distances so her son could compete at higher levels in soccer and hockey. Jason also has an older brother named Nathan Shokalook. As of now, no reliable public source confirms that Jason has a girlfriend, wife or children.
Does Jason Shokalook Have a Girlfriend?
As of now, Jason Shokalook has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend through reliable interviews, club announcements or established sports reporting.
Shokalook has spoken extensively about his family, his childhood in Erie and the sacrifices required to reach Major League Soccer, but he has generally kept his romantic life out of his public profile.
No current Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire or University of Akron biography identifies a girlfriend or partner.
For that reason, social-media photographs or interactions should not be treated as confirmation of a relationship unless Shokalook personally makes that information public.
Is Jason Shokalook Married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Jason Shokalook is married.
Neither Real Salt Lake nor Chicago Fire has identified a wife or fiancée, and interviews focused on his personal journey discuss his parents and extended family rather than a spouse.
Does Jason Shokalook Have Children?
As of now, there is no reliable public information indicating that Jason Shokalook has children.
Shokalook has not publicly described himself as a father, and no authoritative club or media profile identifies a son or daughter.
Who Are Jason Shokalook’s Parents?
Jason Shokalook’s parents are Mark and Carrie Shokalook. The University of Akron officially identifies Jason as their son.
Both played major roles in his development, but in different ways. Mark provided much of Jason’s early football instruction, while Carrie handled an extraordinary amount of the transportation required for him to access stronger competition outside Erie.
Jason has been particularly open about the fact that his professional career would have been extremely difficult without their support.
Jason Shokalook’s Father: Mark Shokalook
Mark Shokalook is Jason’s father and one of the biggest influences on his soccer career.
Jason said in a 2026 interview that his father was his coach from approximately five years old until Jason began regularly traveling to Cleveland for higher-level youth soccer.
He described Mark as a “massive mentor” and said his father played the biggest coaching role during the earliest stage of his development.
That mentorship gave Jason a strong technical and competitive foundation before he entered more specialized academy environments.
Mark Shokalook Played College Soccer
Mark had playing experience of his own before becoming a coach.
Historical school information identifies him as a former Mercyhurst College soccer player who served as a team captain during his collegiate career.
That experience meant Jason grew up with a father who understood competitive soccer not simply as a parent but as a former player.
Mark later became heavily involved in youth soccer around Erie, helping coach and develop players within the local community.
Mark Shokalook’s Role in Erie Soccer
The Shokalook family remains connected to soccer in Erie even after Jason became a professional.
Erie FC currently lists Mark Shokalook among its sporting directors, demonstrating that his involvement in youth development continued well beyond Jason’s childhood.
This makes Jason’s path particularly connected to his hometown. His father was not simply driving him to practices; he was part of the soccer community in which Jason initially developed.
Jason Shokalook’s Mother: Carrie Shokalook
Carrie Shokalook is Jason’s mother and arguably made some of the greatest practical sacrifices during his childhood career.
Jason has repeatedly described the extraordinary distances she drove so that he could compete in both soccer and hockey.
While living in Erie, Carrie would collect Jason from school and drive him approximately two and a half hours to Pittsburgh for hockey on Mondays and Wednesdays.
On other weekdays, the family traveled roughly two hours to Cleveland so Jason could train and compete at a higher level in soccer.
Each trip also required the same lengthy return journey to Erie.
Carrie Shokalook’s Long Drives Became Jason’s Motivation
Jason has said those journeys remain one of his strongest sources of motivation even as a professional.
He remembers traveling home late at night and seeing how exhausted his mother was after spending hours behind the wheel.
In a 2026 interview, Shokalook explained that he still thinks about those moments when he feels tired and considers skipping additional training.
Remembering his mother’s sacrifices pushes him to continue working because he sees his career as something larger than his own personal ambitions.
He has said that achieving success is also about allowing his family to enjoy the rewards of the work they put into helping him.
Carrie Shokalook Remains Involved With Erie FC
Carrie also remains connected to the local soccer organization that helped shape the family’s sporting life.
Erie FC currently lists Carrie Shokalook among its administrators and registration staff, while Mark serves within the club’s sporting leadership.
The continued involvement of both parents illustrates how deeply soccer is embedded in the Shokalook household.
Jason Shokalook’s Parents Helped Him Choose Soccer Over Hockey
Jason was a talented athlete in more than one sport during childhood.
For roughly two years, he attempted to pursue both competitive hockey and soccer, resulting in the demanding weekly travel schedule between Erie, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
Eventually, the situation became unsustainable.
Jason has explained that his family believed that if he wanted to accomplish something at a high level, he needed to commit completely rather than divide his effort between two sports.
He chose soccer.
The decision eventually proved decisive, but it also demonstrates the influence of the values established inside the Shokalook family: once Jason selected a path, the expectation was that he would give it everything he had.
Does Jason Shokalook Have Siblings?
Yes. Jason Shokalook has at least one publicly documented sibling, an older brother named Nathan Shokalook.
Historical family information connected to Mark Shokalook identifies Mark and Carrie as the parents of two sons, Nathan and Jason.
The same relationship is independently supported by the obituary of Jason’s maternal grandfather, Robert Bardroff, which lists Carrie Shokalook and her husband Mark among his children and Nathan and Jason among his grandchildren.
Jason Shokalook’s Brother: Nathan Shokalook
Nathan Shokalook is Jason’s older brother.
Historical Cathedral Preparatory School information identifies Nathan as a member of the school’s Class of 2018, while Jason was associated with the Class of 2021.
Nathan has maintained a considerably more private public profile than Jason. Reliable current sources do not provide enough information to describe his occupation, relationships or present involvement in soccer.
For that reason, those details are best left private.
The Shokalook Family’s Erie Roots
The Shokalook family has strong ties to Erie, Pennsylvania.
Jason grew up there and has repeatedly discussed how difficult it can be for an aspiring elite soccer player to emerge from the area.
Unlike cities with major MLS academies nearby, Erie required substantial travel for Jason to find the level of competition necessary for his development.
That is why the sacrifices made by Mark and Carrie were so important. Without regular transportation to Cleveland and other cities, Jason would have had significantly fewer opportunities to test himself against elite youth players.
Jason Shokalook’s First Soccer Experiences
Jason began playing soccer when he was very young, with his father acting as his primary coach during his earliest years.
He initially played with local Erie clubs and eventually emerged as one of the best players in his age group.
Jason later recalled that he first seriously began believing professional soccer might be possible while playing for the Erie Admirals, the organization now known as Erie FC.
He progressively moved into older age groups and discovered that he could compete successfully with older players.
That became an important confidence boost.
Why Jason Shokalook Had to Leave Erie for Better Competition
As Jason improved, remaining exclusively within local soccer was no longer enough.
He began traveling to Cleveland to develop within the Internationals Academy, which competed at a high level within the U.S. Soccer Development Academy system.
The journey meant several hours in the car for every training session.
For Jason, this became normal. For his mother, it required hundreds of hours of driving over the course of his youth career.
Those years eventually helped Shokalook become highly regarded nationally. TopDrawerSoccer ranked him among the leading forwards in his graduating class.
Jason Shokalook’s College Career at Akron
Shokalook remained relatively close to home when he accepted a scholarship from the University of Akron.
The university officially lists him as the son of Mark and Carrie and notes that he majored in business.
His college career developed gradually.
He scored only once during his first season but became increasingly productive as he matured.
In 2022, he scored nine goals, and in 2023 his production rose dramatically.
Shokalook finished his final Akron season with 14 goals and five assists in 17 appearances.
Those numbers helped earn him BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year honors and Second-Team All-America recognition.
Jason Shokalook’s Family Celebrated His MLS Draft
Chicago Fire selected Shokalook with the 35th overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.
Although being drafted was an important achievement, he still had to fight for a professional contract.
Chicago initially signed him to its MLS NEXT Pro team rather than immediately giving him a permanent senior MLS deal.
That meant another stage of patience and development.
Jason Shokalook’s Mother and Aunt Saw His MLS Debut
One of the most emotional family moments in Shokalook’s career came on June 7, 2025, when he made his Major League Soccer debut for Chicago Fire against D.C. United.
His mother and one of his aunts were in the stadium in Washington, D.C.
Jason entered the match and recorded an assist as Chicago won 7-1.
Afterward, he gave his game jersey to his mother.
Shokalook described the moment as particularly emotional because he understood how much she had sacrificed during all those years of childhood travel.
Jason Called His Father After His MLS Debut
Mark was not at the stadium for Jason’s MLS debut, but his son called him afterward.
Jason said that his father, mother, grandfather and close friends were all extremely happy.
For Shokalook, reaching MLS represented more than an individual accomplishment because so many relatives had supported him during difficult stages of his development.
He specifically described the debut as special for the entire family.
Jason Shokalook’s Extended Family
Jason has also mentioned his aunt and grandfather when discussing his support system.
His aunt accompanied Carrie to his first MLS appearance, while Jason said his grandfather was among the people with whom the family shared the celebration afterward.
The Shokalook family’s connection to Erie can also be traced through Jason’s maternal grandparents. An obituary for his grandfather, Robert G. Bardroff, identified Carrie Shokalook as one of his daughters and specifically named Nathan and Jason among his grandchildren.
It also noted that Robert enjoyed following Jason’s University of Akron soccer matches, even learning to use an iPad so he could watch his grandson play.
Jason Shokalook’s 2025 Breakthrough
After his brief first-team opportunity in 2025, Shokalook returned to Chicago Fire II and produced the best season of his professional career to that point.
He scored 20 goals in 22 regular-season MLS NEXT Pro matches, winning the league’s Golden Boot.
Shokalook was also selected to the MLS NEXT Pro Best XI and became a finalist for league MVP.
The breakthrough rewarded years of persistence and eventually convinced Chicago to promote him to a permanent first-team MLS contract ahead of the 2026 season.
Why Jason Shokalook Says His Career Is Bigger Than Himself
Family sacrifice has shaped the way Jason views professional soccer.
When discussing extra training, he has explained that memories of his mother struggling through late-night drives make it difficult for him to justify taking shortcuts.
He wants his success to reward his parents as well as himself.
That mentality was also reflected in his decision as a teenager to give up hockey. The Shokalook family believed that pursuing excellence required full commitment, and Jason has continued applying that principle throughout his professional career.
Jason Shokalook Joins Real Salt Lake
On September 2, 2026, Real Salt Lake acquired Shokalook from Chicago Fire.
The deal sent up to $200,000 in General Allocation Money to Chicago, depending on performance incentives.
Shokalook joined RSL through the end of the 2026 season, with club options for 2027 and 2028.
The move provided another opportunity for the Erie native to establish himself permanently at MLS level after his prolific MLS NEXT Pro career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jason Shokalook’s Family
Who are Jason Shokalook’s parents?
Jason Shokalook’s parents are Mark and Carrie Shokalook. The University of Akron officially identifies him as their son.
Who is Jason Shokalook’s father?
Jason’s father is Mark Shokalook. Jason has described him as a major mentor who coached him from approximately age five until he began traveling regularly to Cleveland for elite youth soccer.
Did Jason Shokalook’s father play soccer?
Yes. Historical school records identify Mark as a former Mercyhurst College soccer player and team captain. He later became involved in youth coaching and currently serves among Erie FC’s sporting directors.
Who is Jason Shokalook’s mother?
Jason’s mother is Carrie Shokalook. She made extensive sacrifices for his athletic career, including driving several hours multiple times per week so he could attend soccer and hockey training.
What does Carrie Shokalook do with Erie FC?
Erie FC currently lists Carrie among its administration and registration staff.
Does Jason Shokalook have siblings?
Yes. Jason has an older brother named Nathan Shokalook.
Who is Jason Shokalook’s brother?
Jason’s brother is Nathan Shokalook. Historical family information identifies Nathan as Mark and Carrie Shokalook’s older son. He has kept his current personal and professional life private.
Does Jason Shokalook have a girlfriend?
As of now, Jason Shokalook has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through reliable sources.
Is Jason Shokalook married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Jason Shokalook is married.
Does Jason Shokalook have children?
As of now, no reliable public source confirms that Jason Shokalook has children.
Where is Jason Shokalook from?
Jason Shokalook was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was born on September 30, 2002.
Who helped Jason Shokalook become a soccer player?
Jason has credited both parents extensively. His father Mark served as his early coach and mentor, while his mother Carrie spent years driving long distances so he could access higher-level soccer competition.
Laurinda Jocias is a football writer covering English women’s football, including the Women’s Super League. Her work focuses on players, clubs, and the continued development of the women’s game in the UK.
