Mike Candrea
University of Arizona Head Coach

Arguably the best college coach in the game, Mike Candrea's Wildcat teams posted a 576-91 record (86% wins) in the 90's. National Championships in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997 put Candrea's teams in a class of their own.

After 14 seasons at University of Arizona (UA), Mike Candrea carries a record of 747-159, a winning percentage of .825, the top figure among active coaches. Candrea's teams have appeared with the nation's best in 12 consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship at the College World Series, winning it five times in the 90's. Candrea is one of only eight coaches to register 700 wins, and should easily reach the 800 win club in the not too distant future.

Candrea is recognized as one of the finest teachers in the game of fastpitch softball today. HIs ability to teach players is demonstrated by the fact that University of Arizona (UA) leads the nation with 33 first-team All-American selections, 32 during Candrea's tenure, with an additional 17 receiving second or third-team honors. He was recently honored by the University of Arizona Alumni Association with an Honorary Alumnus Degree, a prestigious campus wide honor bestowed annually by the association upon educators and faculty who teach University of Arizona students.

Mike was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996. He has been selected 5 times as the Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year, a conference so strong that in 1999 every team went to the NCAA playoffs, of which five teams managed to reach the College World Series.

The long-standing success of the University of Arizona Softball program has accomplished several feats that make the record book under Candrea.

1994 64-3 overall record, best NCAA winning percentage
1997 30-0 home record
1998 31-0 road record
1998 64-7 overall record, most NCAA wins in a single season
12 consecutive College World Series appearances, nation's best
1997/98 45-game winning streak, longest in NCAA

The success of the UA program has garnered much media coverage, highlighting the success of not only the team, but individual players numbers as well. Candrea does not post statistics and refuses to foster individual goals on his teams. His motto-- "teams battle adversity and win games, not individuals" puts their success in perspective.

Candrea is sought out by softball and baseball coaching clinics as one of the best hitting clinicians and movtivational speakers in the country. In recent years, he has consulted with major league baseball stars and other learned technicians to conduct national hitting clinics and become instrumental in the art of teaching hitting. He has written several books and produced a number of videotapes on various softball subjects and has designed specific practice aids and equipment which are widely used on all levels of play.

Candrea spent 1981-1985 coaching Central Arizona College and his team won consecutive NJCAA World Series in his final two seasons, earning him national coach of the year honors each time. Prior to coaching softball, he was a Central assistant baseball coach from 1976-80.

He played baseball at Central, but his career was cut short by an elbow injury. He earned an associate degree at Central in 1975, a bachelor's degree at Arizona State in 1978, and a master's degree from ASU in 1980. Candrea and his wife, Sue, have two children, Mikel, and Michelle. He was born in New Orleans, LA, and is an avid golf enthusiast and UA football fan.

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