Head Coach Maggie Calcaterra enters her third season as the head coach of the IUPUI softball program. She had previously been the head softball and volleyball coach at Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Ill., for three years.
In her first season with the Jags, she guided the squad to a 13-37 record during a 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 her first two first full years of recruiting, she landed a highly touted outfielder in Mia Ettl and athletic middle infielder Stacy Harte from the high school ranks. Her 2008-09 class already includes a JUCO catcher, a pair of pitcher/infielders and two versatile outfielders.
Calcaterra has also had success attracting transfer students, landing a crop that has included infielder Meaghan Raynes, utility player Jenny Boyts and former LaSalle pitcher Lea Corcoran. With the intent of upgrading team speed, athleticism and depth of the roster, the squad has grown beyond 20 players.
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 on IUPUI's Academic Advisor's List each semester.
Her team also made a strong community service initiative, including manning a phone bank following the Hurricane Katrina disaster, taking part in the Race for the Cure and Light the Night, 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 last 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 last season.
Academically, her squads have 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. She takes over for Julie Pratt, who led the IUPUI program for six seasons before taking a similar post at Meyers University in Cleveland, Ohio.
"Maggie brings enthusiasm for both academics and softball that will pay big dividends for IUPUI and the softball student-athletes," IUPUI Director of Athletics Michael Moore said. "I look forward to seeing her put her stamp on Jaguars softball."
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."
Calcaterra inherited a squad that went 20-25 last season and finished at .500 in Mid-Continent Conference play for the second straight season. Eleven of 14 letterwinners returned and three newcomers signed National Letters of Intent in the fall.
