Athletics > Paul Souza
Paul Souza
Head Coach, Men's and Women's Track and Field
Email: psouza@wheatonma.edu
Office: Haas Athletic Center
Phone: 508-286-3982
Fax: 508-286-8249
Profile
Entering his 14th year as Wheaton's head men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field coach, Paul Souza's teams have established reputations as leading national powers in NCAA Division III track and field. Over a 10-year span, his women's squad has won eight national championships, finished second four times and placed third twice. On the men's side, Souza has led his indoor team to three top-six national finishes in the last eight years and the team has fared similarly as well during the outdoor season, finishing among the top eight teams three times since 2000.
In his 13 years at Wheaton, Souza has witnessed his athletes record 76 national titles and 246 All-America honors. He was voted United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) National Indoor Coach of the Year in 2002, New England Coach of the Year on six occasions and conference coach of the year eight times. A USA Track & Field (USATF) Level I and II certified coach and the national vertical jumps chair for men's development, Souza has attracted some of the nation's most talented athletes to Wheaton, including several United States Olympic Trials qualifiers and two trials finalists.
Highly involved with the USATF, Souza was selected as an assistant coach for the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey. He was one of three assistant coaches for the 2004 United States World Indoor Track & Field championship team that competed in Budapest, Hungary. "It's always an honor to represent your country, especially at the world championships and during an Olympic year," Souza stated. "Any time you have a chance to serve your country at the highest level of your sport, it is the highest honor you can receive other than being an Olympic coach."
Souza also traveled to England and Scotland in the summer of 2001 as an assistant coach of the United States World Junior team. He was chosen to be an assistant coach for the 1995 United States Olympic Sports Festival East team. Souza has been nominated for coaching positions on other upcoming United States national and international teams, including the Olympic team.
In 1987, Souza founded the Elite Track and Field Series, which has become one of the premier clinics in the country, attracting such high-profile clinicians as Kevin O'Donnell, Loren Seagrave, Dwight Stones and Norm Tate. He is the former personal coach of 1999 USATF national indoor high jump champion Henry Patterson (7' 6 1/2") and 1998 champion Sam Hill (7' 6 1/2"). Souza's expertise in the jumps has made him one of the most sought-after clinicians in the track and field world.
An Olympic trials qualifier as well as an NCAA and USA-TFA All-America athlete, Souza earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Pennsylvania State University in 1983 and a master's degree from Eastern Nazarene College in 1985. A native of nearby Mansfield, he still holds the Penn State high jump record at 7' 4 1/2" and Mansfield High School mark at 6' 10".
The Souza File
Men's Team
| Year | League | NCAA (Indoor) | NCAA (Outdoor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1995-96 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1996-97 | n/a | T-7th (16 Points) | T-40th (6 Points) |
| 1997-98 | n/a | No Team Score | T-32nd (8 Points) |
| 1998-99 | 2nd | T-21st (6 Points) | 14th (17 Points) |
| 1999-00 | 5th | 6th (18 Points) | 8th (30 Points) |
| 2000-01 | 4th | 5th (25 Points) | T-7th (24 Points) |
| 2001-02 | 4th | 4th (27 Points) | 5th (29 Points) |
| 2002-03 | 5th | T-10th (12 Points) | T-30th (10 Points) |
| 2003-04 | 4th | T-8th (16 Points) | T-27th (10 Points) |
| 2004-05 | 5th | n/a | n/a |
| 2005-06 | 4th | T-22nd (8 Points) | n/a |
| 2006-07 | 5th | 22nd (7 Points) | No Team Score |
Women's Team
| Year | League | NCAA (Indoor) | NCAA (Outdoor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 3rd | n/a | n/a |
| 1995-96 | 1st | n/a | n/a |
| 1996-97 | 2nd | No Team Score | No Team Score |
| 1997-98 | 1st | 2nd (28 Points) | 2nd (50 Points) |
| 1998-99 | 1st | 1st (43 Points) | 2nd (48 Points) |
| 1999-00 | 1st | 1st (47 Points) | 3rd (48.5 Points) |
| 2000-01 | 1st | 1st (63 Points) | 1st (83.5 Points) |
| 2001-02 | 1st | 1st (65.5 Points) | 1st (67 Points) |
| 2002-03 | 1st | 1st (54 Points) | 1st (72 Points) |
| 2003-04 | 1st | 2nd (28 Points) | 3rd (37.8 Points) |
| 2004-05 | 1st | 39th (4.5 Points) | T-44th (5 Points) |
| 2005-06 | 1st | 14th (14 Points) | 41st (7 Points) |
| 2006-07 | 2nd | 9th (19 Points) | T-28th (9 Points) |
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 6/9/08.
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