Brewer High School

Paul Soucy was a beloved teacher, coach and administrator following his graduation from the University of Maine in 1972 until his retirement in 2013. His passion for athletics began as a student at South Portland High School where he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He lettered in all three sports and earned numerous accolades for his athleticism. Upon graduating from South Portland High School in 1968, Soucy attended the University of Maine at Orono receiving a bachelor’s degree in physical education. Soucy was a starting tight end on the University of Maine Black Bears Football Team and was twice awarded the coveted “M” letter.  

Fresh out of college, Soucy accepted an English teaching position at Winnacunnet High School in New Hampshire where he also coached football and basketball. In 1973, Soucy moved to Brewer to teach physical education at Brewer High School and served as department head from 1976 to 1989. During his tenure at Brewer, Soucy’s coaching role began as an assistant football coach and expanded to include gymnastics coach, and head coach of the boys’ JV basketball team. In 1979, Soucy was appointed head varsity girls’ basketball coach where he made an immediate and immeasurable impact. Former player, Sonja Faulkner (Class of 1986) states, “He was a larger-than-life advocate for female athletes before it was fashionable. In addition to being wise, witty and talented, he was fiercely protective of, and loyal to his players. Coach Soucy wanted us to do well, not for a record or his ego or professional advancement, but because he was a tireless champion for young student-athletes.” After he took the reins, the team qualified for the Eastern Maine Tournament three consecutive years. His teams were known for their scrappy, aggressive defensive play and “Tenacity”, which was printed on their practice jerseys. Known as “The Big Guy” by his players and “Sous” by his colleagues, Soucy’s teams would have another two-year run (’88 & ’89) in the tournament becoming Eastern Maine runner-up in 1988. The 1988 squad is the only team in Brewer High School history to have reached the Eastern Maine finals. Soucy was awarded the 1988 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year Award from the Big East Conference. With a record of 110-82 spanning 10 years, Soucy has the most career wins of any girls’ basketball coach in school history.

Soucy also coached the Brewer girls’ varsity softball team from 1980-1989 achieving an overall record of 124-43. Amy Banks (Class of 1980 and 2016 Brewer Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee) recounts fondly what her softball coach meant to the team: "Coach Soucy started coaching during my senior year in High School. He stepped in seamlessly and led the team to a near perfect season (lost one game that year). With his orange coaching shorts matching his hair, he was rather a gentle giant with a clear, confident and highly skilled ability to get the team to pull together as a whole unit. Starters and substitutes were treated with the same deep respect, caring. This was a powerful lesson for all who played on his teams." Soucy’s softball teams won the Penobscot Valley Conference Championship five times during his tenure! In 1981, Soucy led his team to a state runner-up title and he was crowned the Maine High School Coaches Association Softball Coach of the Year. He also served as the president of the Maine State Softball Coaches Association from 1987 to 1989.

Although Soucy’s teaching and coaching career at Brewer ended in 1989, for the next 13 years, he took on administrative roles as assistant principal at Hermon High School, Brewer High School and Bangor High School. As a result of his dedication and commitment to the Hermon community and athletic facilities, the Paul Soucy Award is presented annually to a Hermon student-athlete who has made significant contributions to their team, school, and community by displaying a selfless team first attitude with grace and class. 

Soucy has always been an advocate for interscholastic athletics on the local and state level.  His leadership style and personality created a sense of respect, honesty and professionalism. Soucy was regarded as a topnotch softball and football official. In 1990, he was selected as the president of the Bangor Chapter of the Maine Football Officials Association. Soucy was a familiar face to Eastern Maine Basketball Tourney teams and fans each year beginning in 1973 where he performed any duty necessary, from announcing and scorekeeping to ensuring the tournament ran smoothly. Additionally, he was the Big East Basketball Conference Director from 1986 to 2008. Soucy also served as the Eastern Maine Cheerleading Tournament Director from 2004-2008.

Soucy’s accolades in sport are numerous: Big East Conference Service Award (2002), Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administration Association Outstanding Achievement Award (2004), and Big East Conference Recognition Award (2007). In honor of his leadership, the Big East Conference created the Paul Soucy Spirit Award which is awarded to a boy and girl basketball player representing each school in the conference. In 2018, for his outstanding contributions to sport, Soucy was inducted into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Fame “Hall of Honors”.

Following his retirement in 2013, Soucy has been an announcer and scorekeeper at Brewer, Bangor and Hermon athletic games and has been an active member of several organizations including the University of Maine Alumni Association M Club, the Brewer High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Maine Parkinson’s Society.

Paul Soucy resides in Brewer with his wife of 52 years, Linda. Paul and Linda’s family includes their son, Ryan, a 1991 Brewer High School graduate and his wife, Marcy Webster Soucy, and grandson, Evan, a student at the University of Maine.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INDUCTION AND ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF PAUL SOUCY

Inductee Paul Soucy is presented the Hall of Fame Induction Award by his grandson Evan Soucy