Luke Calcatera Named UNT Men's Golf Coach
6/7/2023 8:54:00 AM | Men's Golf
Won 2021 NCAA Division II National Title
DENTON – Luke Calcatera, who led North Alabama to a resurgent season in 2023 and spent the previous decade building Arkansas Tech into a perennial national powerhouse, was named the head coach of UNT men's golf by Vice President and Director of Athletics Jared Mosley on Wednesday.
"Luke is a proven leader, a national championship winning coach with success at multiple institutions," Mosley said. "He has a strong track record for recruiting elite talent, specifically in the state of Texas. We look forward to the future of Mean Green golf under his leadership. Join us in welcoming Luke, Ashley and their three children to the Mean Green Family."
The Keller native took over a UNA program making the transition to Division I, and in his lone season led the Lions to a 75-spot improvement in the Golfstat rankings, a conference-best three tournament wins and the program's first victory over a top-20 opponent.
"I want to thank President Smatresk and Director of Athletics Jared Mosley for the opportunity to coach at the University of North Texas," Calcatera said. "My family and I could not be more excited to come to Denton and have this great opportunity at UNT. I believe in this state, and I believe in the pride and tradition of North Texas men's golf. My family looks forward to joining the Mean Green Family and can't wait to get started in Denton."
Calcatera's success at ATU included 10 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, two-time Arnold Palmer Cup Head Coach Finalist, six-time Great American Conference Coach of the Year and three-time Central Region Coach of the Year, Calcatera is also known as a relentless recruiter. He previously signed Texas natives that earned four All-America awards, an Arnold Palmer Cup finalist honor and back-to-back conference individual champions.
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 his final 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 2007 and 2013 graduate of ATU, Calcatera is married to the former Ashley Duvall of Russellville, Arkansas. They have three children, Josephine, Luke, Jr. and Dean.
COACHING HISTORY
2011-19: Arkansas Tech, Head Men's Golf Coach
2020-22: Arkansas Tech, Director of Golf
2023: North Alabama, Head Men's Golf Coach
"Luke is a proven leader, a national championship winning coach with success at multiple institutions," Mosley said. "He has a strong track record for recruiting elite talent, specifically in the state of Texas. We look forward to the future of Mean Green golf under his leadership. Join us in welcoming Luke, Ashley and their three children to the Mean Green Family."
The Keller native took over a UNA program making the transition to Division I, and in his lone season led the Lions to a 75-spot improvement in the Golfstat rankings, a conference-best three tournament wins and the program's first victory over a top-20 opponent.
"I want to thank President Smatresk and Director of Athletics Jared Mosley for the opportunity to coach at the University of North Texas," Calcatera said. "My family and I could not be more excited to come to Denton and have this great opportunity at UNT. I believe in this state, and I believe in the pride and tradition of North Texas men's golf. My family looks forward to joining the Mean Green Family and can't wait to get started in Denton."
Calcatera's success at ATU included 10 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, two-time Arnold Palmer Cup Head Coach Finalist, six-time Great American Conference Coach of the Year and three-time Central Region Coach of the Year, Calcatera is also known as a relentless recruiter. He previously signed Texas natives that earned four All-America awards, an Arnold Palmer Cup finalist honor and back-to-back conference individual champions.
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 his final 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 2007 and 2013 graduate of ATU, Calcatera is married to the former Ashley Duvall of Russellville, Arkansas. They have three children, Josephine, Luke, Jr. and Dean.
COACHING HISTORY
2011-19: Arkansas Tech, Head Men's Golf Coach
2020-22: Arkansas Tech, Director of Golf
2023: North Alabama, Head Men's Golf Coach