Club Director, Cynthia Souza Named to
New Agenda: 2009 Northeast Women's
Hall of Fame
King Philip Regional High School Varsity Volleyball Coach Cynthia Souza has been named to the New Agenda: Northeast Women's
Hall of Fame. The 2009 New Agenda: Northeast Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Woodland Golf Club
in Newton, MA on Sunday, November 1st at 2:00 PM.
New Agenda: Northeast was founded to provide an opportunity for women in sports to gather annually to determine
the future direction for women's sport and fitness in America and to develop a plan for the future of girls and women's sport.
Hall of Fame honorees are selected based on their lifetime contributions to women's athletics as well as their outreach to the community.
While developing a new girls volleyball program only in its third season, Souza is coaching at King Philip High School,
after previously coaching at Dean College (1994 - 2004) and Framingham State College (1985 - 1991). At Dean College Souza
won NJCAA Region XXI Championships in 1999, 2002 and 2003 and at Framingham State led the women’s teams three times to MASCAC
Conference Championships.
Souza has also successfully coached girls volleyball at the Massachusetts Amateur Baystate Games winning a Gold medal coaching
the Girls Scholastic Metro team in 1993, and Girls Scholastic Southeast 1990 Gold medal, 1989 Bronze medal, and 1988 Silver medal
teams. She coached at International competitions at the World Youth Games in London for Sport Eurotour in the summer of 1998,
and for the NERVA High Performance Championships in Austin Tx in the summer of 2005.
As Director of the Metrowest Junior Olympic Volleyball Club, one of the largest in New England, she continues to provide
opportunities for young girls to develop their athletic abilities and life skills in a safe and healthy environment.
Souza is the club founder and has coached in the program since 1987.
Souza was honored in June 2009 at the RWU Women’s Sports Alumni gathering by past coach Joel Dearing with a “Pioneer Award”
for vision and determination to establish volleyball at Roger Williams University. Souza started the volleyball team and was
a four-year player. In 2000 RWU presented an award to Souza for Support of Women’s Athletics. Other past awards include
NJCAA Region XXI Coach of the Year (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003), and Colonial State Athletic Conference Female Coach of the Year
(1998).
Souza’s professional training was obtained through the USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation Program Level 3 in Salt Lake
City Utah and High Performance training at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
In addition to her coaching career, Souza spent 20 years growing the sport of volleyball for girls and boys in the
New England Region as the Junior Commissioner for the New England Region Volleyball Association (1987 – 2007), and served on
the NERVA Board of Directors. On a National level she served as a member of the USA Volleyball Elite Commission (1998 – 2003)
in Colorado Springs to develop a national high performance pipeline program for girls.
Working with the Norfolk Rec Department she has provided girls volleyball programs for grades 4 – 6, and participated in the
“Jump Up and Go” program for youngsters to promote sport and exercise for grade school ages. She served as the Baystate Games
Event Director for volleyball 1991 and 1992 and was also the Volleyball Event Director for the Massachusetts Special Olympics
Summer Games during 1987-1991 and continues to volunteer for the Mass Special Olympic summer games, usually bringing some of
her High School team members to contribute toward community service.
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