BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Rich Calvert has been named the head coach of the Long Island University softball program, Director of Athletics Elliott Charles announced on Tuesday. Calvert joins LIU after a successful 21-year run at Drake University (2003-2023). He will serve as the fourth head coach in LIU's Division I history and oversee the program's transition from Brooklyn to the Post campus for the 2027-2028 academic year.

Calvert completed his tenure at Drake as the winningest coach in program history, amassing 568 wins, which currently ranks fifth all-time in Missouri Valley Conference softball history.

Under Calvert's guidance, the Bulldogs won Missouri Valley regular season titles in 2015, 2018, and 2019, and conference tournament titles in 2008, 2018, and 2019. Multiple former players earned individual honors under Calvert's tutelage including Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Mandi Roemmich (2018), and two-time Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year and current MVC career strikeouts record holder Nicole Newman (2018-2019), among several other all-conference selections.

Calvert and his staff at Drake also earned four Missouri Valley Conference Coaching Staff of the Year awards (2011, 2015, 2018, & 2019).

"I want to thank President Dr. Kim Cline, Athletic Director Elliott Charles, and the entire hiring committee for trusting me to lead LIU's history softball program," said Calvert. "Over the past 30 years, LIU has been a highly successful mid-major program, and I look forward to continuing to build on these successes both on and off the field. I am extremely honored and excited to get to work and continue the great tradition here at LIU."

A native of Taylorville, Illinois, Calvert graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Physical Education (1988) and a M.S. in Sports Administration (1990).

Calvert started his career at Illinois State where he served as an undergraduate assistant coach (1986-1988), graduate assistant coach (1989), and later a full-time assistant coach (1990-1992). During his time with the Redbirds, Calvert helped lead ISU to two Gateway Conference titles (1988 & 1991) and one NCAA Tournament appearance (1988).

Calvert then moved on to assistant coaching roles at Ohio State University (1993-1996) and the University of Iowa (1997-2002) before landing the head coaching job at Drake. During his time at Iowa, Calvert helped the Hawkeyes to five NCAA Tournaments and two Women's College World Series appearances, while winning Big Ten Conference titles in 1997 and 2000.

Calvert and his wife Diane have five children, Allie, Maci, Nate, Rachel, and Breck.