Luke Calcatera, who spent the last decade building the Arkansas Tech men’s golf program into a perennial national powerhouse, was named as the head men's golf coach at the University of North Alabama on June 2, 2022.
Calcatera's success at ATU includes ten straight NCAA Regional appearances, six trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament, five teams advancing to NCAA finals match play, and the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship.
The 2021 Division II National Coach of the Year, a 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup Head Coach Finalist, a six-time Great American Conference Coach of the Year and three-time Central Region Coach of the Year, Calcatera takes the reins of one of North Alabama's most consistently successful programs. The UNA men's golf teams made 19 NCAA Tournament appearances from 1996-2017, winning four NCAA Regional championships, three conference championships and finishing as the national runner-up in 2008. The Lions have also had individuals claim the Jack Nicklaus (National Player of the Year) and Phil Mickelson (National Freshman of the Year) awards.
During the four years of the school's Division I transition, the Lions have claimed two tournament titles and have been competitive regionally as they have prepared for full Division I membership entering the 2022-23 seasons.
“Luke is an experienced and driven head coach who brings a proven history of building and sustaining championship-caliber teams,” said Looney. “We have high expectations for our men’s golf program as it enters full Division I membership. The addition of Luke, alongside our access to premier golf courses and past program history, moves us into a position to deliver on these expectations. We are thrilled to welcome Luke, Ashley, Josie, LJ and Dean to The Shoals!”
"The opportunity to serve as head men's golf coach at an institution the caliber of the University of North Alabama is a privilege and an honor," said Calcatera. "The academic reputation of UNA, the historical success of its athletic programs and its location in the beautiful Shoals region will provide us with an opportunity to recruit and graduate student-athletes who will win in competition, in the classroom and in the community. I am grateful to Dr. Looney and the UNA community for their confidence in me. My family and I are excited and I can’t wait to get started. Roar Lions!"
Under Calcatera, Arkansas Tech is the only Division II institution in history to reach the match-play 8 at five straight NCAA Championships (2017-19, 21-22). He led his teams to two conference championships and 32 total tournament wins in the last 10 seasons. The individual honors earned by his players during that time include more than 30 all-conference selections, six conference Freshman of the Year honorees, four Conference Player of the Year award winners, along with seven All-Americans in the last four seasons.
Calcatera was promoted to Director of Golf at Arkansas Tech in 2020 and he also became the head coach of the ATU women's golf team. He led the ATU women to an NCAA Regional title and they advanced to NCAA match play. His first female recruit also won GAC Freshman of the Year honors.
As a player, Calcatera played at Arkansas Tech and was on the 2004 team that won the Gulf South Conference Championship and played in that year’s NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament.
A native of Keller, Texas, Calcatera is married to the former Ashley Duvall of Russellville, Arkansas. They have three children, Josephine, Luke, Jr and Dean.
