Hall of Fame
Daring and aggressive with a keen knowledge of the game as a player, Linda Kalafatis has used these same trademarks to produce an outstanding coaching career.
Originally from Bethel Park, Kalafatis earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing in 1988 and her master’s degree in geography and regional planning in 1991.
Recognized as one of the finest defensive catchers in the NCAA Division II, Kalafatis was a two-year all-conference selection who also received all-region honors in 1986. Despite being slowed by injuries in 1987, Kalafatis helped the lady Vulcans record their first winning season (18-14) at the NCAA II level.
After serving as an assistant coach to Pat Guerriero in 1988, Kalafatis became Cal’s head coach in 1989 and unprecedented success was immediate. From 1989 through 1993, Cal softball compiled a 175-53-1 (.766) cumulative record under Kalafatis’ guidance with five-straight PSAC-West championships. Cal U had never won a softball division title before 1989 and that first championship will always be special for Kalafatis.
“That first division title was something,” said Kalafatis. “I was working in the Herron Fitness Center and Denny Mader (umpire) called me about Lock Haven splitting a doubleheader with Slippery Rock that clinched it for us. The emotion of finally winning a championship was incredible.”
Kalafatis led Cal to its first NCAA post-season tourney appearance ever in 1990, when the Lady Vulcans placed an impressive second at the Mid-Atlantic Regional. In 1991, Cal softball ended Bloomsburg’s eight-year reign as state champion by defeating the Huskies 6-1 in the state title game. This was the first-ever PSAC women’s team championship in school history.
“I think our regular season prepared us to make a good postseason run,” Kalafatis said. “We played many Division I schools and highly ranked Division II schools and the tough competition made us better. We kind of caught a wave and kept building on it. That team had the kind of hunger to win that any coach would hope for. Playing the games was easy.”
Under Kalafatis, Cal achieved a 45-5 (.900) record against PSAC-West competition and participated in four NCAA regional tourneys. Cal was also PSAC finalists in 1990 and 1993, as well as finishing in the top 20 poll each season. Her single-season coaching records at Cal were 27-13, 36-10, 47-11, 31-10-1, and 34-9.
“I was fortunate to get the opportunity to lead a program and our expectations became higher than ever before,” said Kalafatis. “I came into a good situation and we were on the way to becoming a good team when I became the head coach.”
Kalafatis credited Guerriero, her coaching predecessor, and Dr. Paul Burd, Cal U vice-president for student development and services, for helping the program become a national power.
“Even though we always dogged him, Pat was the first person who came in here and really wanted to turn it around and make us consistent winners. He showed us the sacrifices that were needed.”
“Dr. Burd was always very supportive. One day he called me into his office and asked who were the best players in the WPIAL and what do we have to do to get them here. He was instrumental in us recruiting Stacy Eppinger (third base) and Lauren Mitchell (catcher) who became our first national all-Americans. The administration was truly behind us.”
Having established herself as one of the country’s up –and-coming coaches, Kalafatis moved up to the NCAA Division I coaching ranks in 1994 when she took over a struggling program at the University of Akron. She guided the Zips for four seasons, compiling a 98-63-1 cumulative record.
In 1997, Kalafatis became the head coach at nationally-respected Ohio State University. Facing another rebuilding challenge, the Buckeyes have steadily improved under Kalafatis and have set numerous individual and team offensive and pitching records. More importantly, the Buckeyes also have put up big numbers in the classroom under Kalafatis. Last year, OSU was ranked No. 27 in a National Fastpitch Coaching Association (NFCA) poll rating academic achievement. The Buckeyes had a collective GPA of 3.148, putting them in the upper echelon of the 243 Division I schools that were ranked. Thirteen members of the 2000 squad were named OSU scholar-athletes and academic All-Big Ten.
During her career, Kalafatis has developed 41 all-conference selections. At Ohio State, 31 of Kalafatis’ players have earned academic All-Big Ten status. Kalafatis is also an active member of the NFCA and has served as a member of the Easter Regional Softball Committee.
“Regardless of where you coach, it is the coaching staff’s job to not only guide these athletes on the field, but also in the classroom,” Kalafatis said. “The players must achieve at the highest level academically and athletically.”
Kalafatis set the groundwork for a Cal softball program that heading into the 2001 season has won 12 straight divisional titles and the past five PSAC championships under head coach Rick Bertagnolli, was also guided the Lady Vulcans to consecutive NCAA II national championships in 1997 and 1998. Four starters on the ’97 national title team were Kalafatis recruits.
“I am very proud of Rick and what his teams have been able to accomplish,” Kalafatis said. “I would like to think that I helped start the foundation. Becoming a consistent winner is a process. I thought our 1993 team was of national championship caliber but we underachieved in the post-season. The talent level was there though and I am proud to have come from a program that has won two national titles.”
Kalafatis also believes her coaching days at Cal U have helped her succeed at the Division I level.
“Jan McConnell (former Cal athletic director) and the administration gave me the opportunity at a young age to lead a program,” Kalafatis said. “It was tough to take over a team that I had played with and I might have missed some things but at the same time it helped me learn quickly. Experiencing the success we enjoyed at Cal was something I was able to carry over to Akron and we’re trying to establish that confidence and winning manner here at Ohio State.”
Fittingly, Kalafatis is the first female coach to be inducted into Cal U’s Hall of Fame.
“I was very surprised and humbled when I got the call,” said Kalafatis, who credited lifelong friend and former teammate and assistant coach Shannon McHugh for getting her involved with softball. “Life is so full speed ahead, especially when a new season has started. But getting the call made me start thinking of the old days and remembering the good people I worked with. It is a great honor and I’m shocked.”
