Head Coach Maggie Calcaterra enters her sixth season as the head coach of the IUPUI softball program. She had previously guided the softball and volleyball programs at Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Ill., for three years before taking over the IUPUI program in 2006.
In her first season with the Jags, she guided the squad to a 13-37 record, beginning a full rebuilding process. Two players earned All Mid-Continent Conference honors, while senior Devan Craig had one of the best all around years in the program’s Division I history. In year two, IUPUI improved to 14-32 as Sarah Needy capped an elite career as the program’s all-time leader in stolen bases. In 2008, IUPUI went 11-27 overall and 6-15 in Summit League play, led by freshman All-Summit League performer Amy Raker.
A tireless recruiter, Calcaterra has enjoyed successes by landing some of the state of Indiana’s top prep talent on an annual basis. In addition, the former JUCO mentor has signed a number of talented junior college student-athletes to her IUPUI squads. Focusing on building team depth and athleticism, Calcaterra has increased roster sizes every year while at the helm of the program.
The most noticeable difference has been the defensive play of the Jaguars as the 2008 team fielding percentage was the second highest in the program’s Division I history. In addition, the 2008 pitching staff recorded the most strikeouts in a season since the year 2000.
Under Calcaterra's tutelage, IUPUI broke several team records and took a step forward. The Jags blasted 37 home runs last season eclipsing the previous high mark. Junior hurler Samantha Bumbaugh set the school record in strikeouts, fanning 140 hitters. Zionsville native Amy Raker earned her second All-Conference award. Sixteen wins were the most for IUPUI since 2005. Eleven wins in the Summit League led the Jaguars to narrowly miss a birth in the conference tournament.
Off the field, Calcaterra’s squads have continued to rate among IUPUI’s best in the classroom and community. The IUPUI softball team ranks annually among the Summit League leaders in Academic All-Conference honorees, while it has averaged putting 11 student-athletes on IUPUI’s Academic Advisor’s List each semester.
Her team also made a strong community service initiative, including helping out at the Indianapolis Marathon, manning a phone bank following the Hurricane Katrina disaster, donating for needy children to the Christamore house and school uniforms to the Challenge Foundation Academy, taking part in the Race for the Cure and Light the Night, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk and NCAA Habitat for Humanity initiatives while hosting several free clinics and visiting various local hospitals.
Calcaterra was also instrumental in bringing the PFX Tour to Indianapolis, as the traveling squad hosted a tournament at Ben Davis High School during the fall of 2006. The Tour, guided by former USA Softball star Dot Richardson, was formed to bring amateur and professional softball teams to meet and compete at the same events.
While at Kaskaskia, Calcaterra revamped the softball program from a 6-24 season in 2003 to a 35-25-1 mark her final year. She helped the Blue Angels to the Region XXIV Final Four each of the past two seasons, including falling just one win shy of the National Tournament in 2004.
Academically, her squads fared even better as her 2004 team earned national honors with a grade point average over a 3.0. All three of her volleyball teams were honored nationally, while her 2004 team had the eighth-highest GPA in the nation.
The Herrin, Ill.-native received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1997, graduating with honors. She completed her Master’s Degree from SIU in Educational Psychology in 2004.
Calcaterra was a two-year letterwinner for the Salukis’ softball program, following a two-year stint at Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill. While at Rend Lake, she was an All-Conference and All-Region selection, along with earning Academic All-America honors.
“I’ve always wanted to coach at the (NCAA) Division I level and at a four-year university,” Calcaterra said. “It’s a great opportunity for me and Indianapolis is a great city.”
