Resendes takes over as new EPHS girls' soccer coach

Program’s all-time leading scorer follows the successful Pizzi duo

By Mike Rego
Posted 8/31/22

EAST PROVIDENCE — Achieving what she said was really a life-long aim, former program great Melissa Resendes is about to embark on her first season as head coach of the East Providence High …

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Resendes takes over as new EPHS girls' soccer coach

Program’s all-time leading scorer follows the successful Pizzi duo

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — Achieving what she said was really a life-long aim, former program great Melissa Resendes is about to embark on her first season as head coach of the East Providence High School girls’ soccer team.

Resendes, 35, takes over the reins of the Townies following the retirements of the very successful husband/wife tandem of Angelo and Stacie Pizzi. The Pizzis, at the helm for a decade, led the EPHS girls to some of their most notable seasons in the roughly five-decade history of the program, including their lone championship, the Division III title in 2016, and two other finals appearances, D-III in 2017 and D-II in 2020.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be the head coach here,” said Resendes, who served with Pizzi as a volunteer assistant for a couple of seasons in early 2010s.

“I always said that if I couldn’t play professionally, then I wanted to come back and coach my school eventually,” she continued. “I’ve been a coach for rec league and middle school, but my goal was always to be the coach at East Providence High School. And now I finally got here.”

Resendes, a member of the EPHS Class of 2005, knows a bit about being on successful Townie sides in her own right.

The program’s all-time leading goal scorer with something approaching the ridiculous total 150 goals in her career, she was the star forward on East Providence sides that unfortunately came up short to then-rival Cumberland in a pair of D-II title games, 4-1 in 2001 and 3-2 in 2003.

The latter team remains as the school’s all-time leader in wins for a single fall with 20. The Townies went 18-1 during the regular season and won two playoff games before falling to Clippers for the title.

After high school, Resendes continued her career at the Community College of Rhode Island and playing club, but suffered a knee injury, which essentially ended her competitive playing days.

She eventually found her professional vocation as a hair stylist, and owns a salon in city. Resendes began dabbling in coaching shortly after she could no longer play at a top level, including her stint as an EPHS volunteer as well as a for several years with East Providence Youth Soccer. For the last three falls, she’s been the head coach of the Martin Middle School team.

Asked how she would describe her style of instruction, she said, “I’d say I’m a players’ coach because I can read the game like they can. I let them play, be creative and I like to hear feedback. I like to hear what they’re seeing out there on the field and make adjustments off of that. But I can also be a disciplinarian when I have to. My motto is all about family, all about team. The only way you win is as a team, not as an individual.”

The “family” aspect to which Resendes refers is literal. Her step-daughter, Brennyn Alves could be an EPHS varsity player this fall. Resendes is also the mom of a 15-month-old and a five-year-old. She knows several of the current Townies as well from either coaching them or through friendships with Brennyn.

“I’ve coached a lot of the girls on the team for a long time going back to when they were little kids,” said Resendes. “In fact, I’ve known some of them for so long, they call me ‘mom.’ I already have a great relationship with a lot of the girls on the team.”

Attributes like relationship building and leadership were a couple of reasons why Resendes was selected for the position when it became open, according to district athletic director Gregg Amore who added, “First and foremost, Melissa was an exceptional athlete and competitor when she played here.

“More importantly, she is a fantastic person who communicates well with her team and has already earned their respect. She has paid her dues while coaching at the middle school level and we are thrilled that she has returned to her alma mater to lead our program.”

Resendes shared that sentiment of elation and eagerness about taking on the position, saying, “Getting the opportunity to coach at the high school level is pretty exciting. My level of anticipation is off the charts.

The Townies, who were realigned up to the D-I ranks for this fall and next, are scheduled to play their first game under Resendes’ direction on Thursday night, Sept. 8, at home against South Kingstown. Opening kick is 6:30 p.m.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.