Mike Souza

Biography

Mike Souza is currently in his eighth season as the head coach at UNH in 2025-2026. Souza, a 2000 UNH graduate, ascended to the head coaching position following three seasons as an associate head coach under Dick Umile, who retired after 28 years as the Wildcats' head coach. Souza represented UNH at the 97th Spengler Cup as an assistant coach of U.S. Collegiate Selects on Dec. 26-31, 2025 in Davos, Switzerland. The Selects were the first team made up of collegiate athletes to compete in the world's oldest invitational hockey tournament. The team advanced all the way tio the finals, falling to tournament host HC Davos. Souza guided the 2023-24 team to a 20-15-1 (.569) overall record which was its best in 11 years when the Wildcats went 20-12-7 (.603) in 2012-13. This was UNH’s first 20-win season in 10 years when the ‘Cats recorded a 22-18-1 record in 2013-14. The ‘Cats, who were picked 10th in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, tied for fifth in the standings going 12-11-1 with 36 points which was their best finish in 10 years when the Wildcats were tied for fourth in 2013-14. The 12 wins were the most for the program in 11 seasons when the team went 13-8-6 in 2012-13. UNH was nationally ranked for 20-consecutive weeks which included a No. 10 ranking on Nov. 20 which was the first time in six seasons the ‘Cats were in the top-10 as they were No. 9 on Nov. 6, 2017. The Wildcats posted a 2.34 team goals against average which was their best in 11 seasons when they recorded a 2.27 G