Anderson to take full-time admin role; Calcatera to take helm of women’s golf program
ATU Athletics
Daniel Gallegos, Director of Athletic Communications
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech University Interim Director of Athletics Abby Davis has announced that Amy Anderson will step down from her post as head coach of the Golden Suns golf team and will transition into athletic administration full-time. In her administration role, Anderson will remain the director of student-athlete success and will add the role of athletic development officer.
In a corresponding staff change, current ATU head men’s golf coach Luke Calcatera will take over the at the helm of the women’s team, making him head coach of both programs. Additionally, Davis has announced the transition and elevation of Kathy Schluterman from football administrative assistant to athletic department administrative assistant.
“The national prominence achieved by our golf programs in recent years is a direct reflection of the excellence and dedication that Luke and Amy have brought to their teams and our department on a daily basis,” Davis said. “As Amy begins a new phase of her career, I believe those same qualities will benefit our student-athletes in the pursuit of their academic goals and our department as she plays a key role in enhancing relationships with our community partners.”
“The women’s golf program that Amy built will continue to flourish under Luke’s leadership. His skills in talent evaluation and development are second-to-none, and he has consistently demonstrated his ability to successfully recruit players with the academic and athletic abilities along with the work ethic necessary to compete on a national scale. I anticipate that Wonder Boys and Golden Suns golf will remain a point of pride for our university at the Great American Conference and NCAA Division II levels for many years to come.”
Under the direction of Anderson, the Golden Suns golf team has set the standard for excellence within the GAC, the region and nationally. Since 2010, the Golden Suns have won six conference tournament championships, qualified for seven NCAA Regional Tournaments (winning the regional in 2017) and have appeared in the NCAA National Championship Tournament five times. In all of their national championship tournament appearances, the Golden Suns have finished no lower than 11th and three times have finished in the Top-10 with the highest finish being ninth-place in 2014.
A direct result of all of that team success was Anderson’s ability to recruit numerous high-level golfers that ended up being highly-decorated as Golden Suns.
Individually, Anderson has coached 17 all-conference golfers that have totaled 40 overall selections, eight all-region golfers that total 14 all-region plaudits and three All-America golfers that have accounted for six selections.
In terms of conference specialty plaudits, Anderson has coached four different GAC Golfer of the Year award winners that have combined to win the honor seven times. She has also coached four GAC Freshman of the Year award winners and has had the GAC Tournament Medalist five times. On a national level, Anderson coached the WGCA National Freshman of the Year in 2019.
While her golfers’ accolades are tremendous on their own, Anderson, herself, have racked up honors as well. At the conference level, Anderson has been named the GAC Coach of the Year seven times while also garnering regional coach of the year honors three times.
While maintaining the remarkable success of the women’s golf program that was built by Anderson may appear to be a daunting task, Calcatera is more than equipped to meet the challenge.
A resoundingly successful golf coach himself, Calcatera has simultaneously built the men’s golf program at Tech into a conference, regional and national powerhouse alongside Anderson’s efforts.
A former golfer at Tech under Dave Falconer, Calcatera took over the reigns of his alma mater in 2012 and in the nine years since, his Wonder Boys have not finished any lower than third at the GAC Championship Tournament and have won two crowns (2013, 2019).
Additionally, the Wonder Boys qualified for seven-straight regional tournament appearances from 2013-2019. In each of the last three full seasons, the Wonder Boys also appeared in the NCAA National Championship Tournament and advanced to the national quarterfinals.
Under his tutelage, Calcatera has mentored 15 All-GAC players that have totaled 25 selections, six all-region golfers that have yielded eight plaudits and two All-America golfers that encompass three honors. Calcatera has also coached two GAC Golfer of the Year award winners, four GAC Freshman of the Year award winners, two GAC Championship Tournament Medalists and has been named GAC Coach of the Year four times.