Graduate assistant coach Kimberlee Souza is entering her second season with the Maroon & Gold. In her first season, she helped lead the Gaels to a fourth place finish in the MAAC with a 19-27, 11-9 MAAC record.
Head coach Melissa Inouye announced NCAA softball standout Kimberlee Souza has joined the staff as a graduate assistant coach for the 2017-18 season.
“I’m very excited to add Kimberlee to my coaching staff and our program. She had a very successful playing career at the University of Washington, which is considered a national softball powerhouse.” Coach Inouye adds on, “Kimberlee definitely knows what it takes to be successful on and off the field as she was a part of 3 super regional and 1 women's college world series teams. I look forward to having Kimberlee work with our student-athletes and share her vast knowledge of the game and postseason experiences."
“I'm excited to be a part of this program and be able to influence these girls in a very important time of their lives. Being able to see the girls grow on and off the field is going to be an amazing experience. Also being able to work on staff with coach Inouye and coach Klampert is going to be a big learning experience. I'm excited to make the jump from playing to college coaching.”
Souza played collegiate softball at the University of Washington. She led the Huskies to a third place finish in the 2013 Women’s College World Series and was named NFCA All-American in 2016. As a senior, Souza additionally garnered First Team All-PAC 12, NFCA All-Pacific Region First Team, and CoSIDA Academic All-American honors.
While at Washington she was a camp instructor, partnering with the coaching staff to create activities to drive participation from attending athletes. Since 2012 she has also embarked as a private softball instructor. This involves incorporating different teaching styles to cater to specific individuals, scheduling practice times and venues, and keeping an uplifting and positive interpersonal atmosphere.
After her career with the Huskies, Souza travel to Germany four five months was played professionally for the Haar Disciples. Returning to the states following her stint, she began serving as a Northwest Prospects Academy Professional Instructor. Souza gathered a wealth of experience in coaching, teaching and mentoring experience. She was in charge of scheduling practices and tournaments for multiple youth softball teams in addition to the educating of youth players.
Souza has taken part with various community service projects including collecting for Coins For Kids and taking part in a Tahiti Study Abroad mission. There she taught sports to youth athletic camps, volunteered in elementary schools, and rebuilt/cleaned certain areas of land.
She graduated from Washington with a Bachelors of Art in March of 2016 with a major in anthropology and American ethnic studies. Souza was on every Dean’s List every semester from 2012 to 2015, and was named the Arthur Ashe Sport Scholar Award winner in 2013.
