Director of Athletics Kris Swogger announced Dante Calabria as the Interim Head Coach of the Keiser University men’s basketball team.
Calabria will be entering his second year with the program and first as the interim coach. In 2016, Calabria helped the Seahawks to the Sun Conference Regular Season Championship and an appearance in the Elite Eight.
Director of Athletics Kris Swogger said, “Dante brings a wealth of knowledge from every level, but more importantly his vision for our program aligns with our department’s mission…. preparing our students for life by teaching skills and habits that lead to success. He has learned from two of the all-time greats in Coach Dean Smith and Coach Massimino, both of whom were focused on student-athlete development on and off the court. While I look forward to seeing what this team does on the court this year, I am more excited about the great group of young men that we have representing our university and the impact they can have in our community under Coach Calabria’s guidance.”
Prior to arriving at Keiser, Calabria was the head coach at Cus Jonico Taranto of the Italian Basketball League and Montverde Academy Prep. Calabria also served as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
“I am very excited and honored for the opportunity to succeed Coach Massimino and represent Keiser University as the Interim Head Basketball Coach,” said Calabria. “What the basketball program has accomplished during Coach Massimino’s tenure has been extraordinary. I will do my best to continue the high standards of developing fine young men that has been established by Coach Mass here at Keiser. I would like to thank Athletic Director Kris Swogger and the entire Keiser Administration for having the confidence in me to continue the Seahawk tradition.”
Calabria enjoyed a four year career with the University of North Carolina playing under Dean Smith. During his time, he was a member of the 1993 NCAA National Championship team. Calabria was also a part of two Final Four teams (1993 and 1995) and competed in three Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championship games, winning the title in 1994. As a senior, he earned Third-Team All-ACC honors.
After graduation, Calabria spent 16 years as a professional basketball player in Italy, Spain, Greece, and France. He was also a member of the Italian National team.
Calabria earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from UNC.
