Mike Candrea
Encyclopedia
Mike Candrea is the head softball
coach at The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona
. He was also the head coach of the United States women's national softball team
.
Under Candrea, the Arizona softball team has become one of the top programs in the U.S. and a perennial powerhouse in the NCAA
. Candrea has coached at Arizona since 1986, where he has garnered over 1100 NCAA wins, along with nine Pac-10 conference titles. Candrea also has ten Pac-10 coach of the year awards. The Arizona softball team has won eight NCAA
Women's College World Series titles, in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2007, all under Coach Candrea (NCAA Softball Championship). The team appeared in the NCAA
Women's College World Series 16 consecutive years, from 1988 to 2003, and again from 2005 to 2010 - 22 appearances, all coming in the last 23 seasons. In addition, UA has appeared in 12 National Championship title games, including eight consecutive appearances, from 1991 and 1998 (NCAA Softball Championship). UA has most recently appeared in the 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2010 National Championship games. Under Candrea at UA, the number of National Championship title game appearances is second only to UCLA.
Candrea recently announced his engagement to Tina Tilton.
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
coach at The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. He was also the head coach of the United States women's national softball team
United States women's national softball team
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.
Collegiate Coaching Record
Candrea coached at the junior college level prior to arriving at UA.Under Candrea, the Arizona softball team has become one of the top programs in the U.S. and a perennial powerhouse in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
. Candrea has coached at Arizona since 1986, where he has garnered over 1100 NCAA wins, along with nine Pac-10 conference titles. Candrea also has ten Pac-10 coach of the year awards. The Arizona softball team has won eight NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Women's College World Series titles, in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2007, all under Coach Candrea (NCAA Softball Championship). The team appeared in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Women's College World Series 16 consecutive years, from 1988 to 2003, and again from 2005 to 2010 - 22 appearances, all coming in the last 23 seasons. In addition, UA has appeared in 12 National Championship title games, including eight consecutive appearances, from 1991 and 1998 (NCAA Softball Championship). UA has most recently appeared in the 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2010 National Championship games. Under Candrea at UA, the number of National Championship title game appearances is second only to UCLA.
National Team Coaching Record
The team won their third consecutive gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games. In addition, Candrea has led the national team to two consecutive World Cup championships, most recently in 2007.Personal life
Mike Candrea was married to Sue Ellen Hudson for 28 years until her death in July 2004. Candrea has two children from this marriage: a son Mikel, 26, and a daughter Michelle, 23. The death of Sue did not in any way dissuade Candrea from completing his duties as head coach of the 2004 US Olympic Softball Team.Candrea recently announced his engagement to Tina Tilton.
See also
- National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of FameNational Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of FameThe National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to recognize coaches who have made extraordinary contributions to the sport of softpitch softball. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all...
- List of college softball coaches with 800 career wins