Arizona Softball Coach Mike Candrea Retiring After 36 Years

TUCSON, AZ — Legendary Arizona softball head coach Mike Candrea is retiring after spending 36 years in Tucson.

The eight-time national championship winning coach, whose 1,674 career wins are the most in NCAA softball history, described the decision as a hard one, but one that felt right.

"It has been an honor to represent the University of Arizona for 36 years," said Candrea in a statement. "I am indebted to every player, coach and member of my support staff that has made the Arizona softball experience one that I will cherish forever. When I arrived in 1985, I wanted to build a culture of excellence and compete consistently at the highest levels of Division 1 softball. Most of all, our goal was to prepare our student-athletes for life after softball and build relationships that would last a lifetime."

Candrea led the Wildcats to the Women's College World Series for the 24th time in 2021, with Arizona losing its two contests, capping off his tenure.

He led Arizona to 34 postseason berths and 10 Pac-12 conference titles during his run, coaching more than 50 All-Americans during that time-frame.

Arizona Athletic Director Dave Heeke praised Candrea's commitment to the university and for the standard of excellence he established.

"Over his four decades as the head coach of Arizona Softball, Mike Candrea established himself as one of the most iconic coaches, of any sport, in college athletics history," said Heeke in a statement. "While his impact on the game is widely recognized, his legacy is in the lives of the thousands of Wildcats who he coached. Mike's career embodied true excellence in all facets of leading a softball program -- winning on the field, student-athlete success in the classroom and developing them for life after graduation. He established a championship culture within Arizona Athletics that permeates throughout our department, and represented our state with honor and distinction. Mike is the epitome of a Wildcat for Life who coached, mentored and developed countless other Wildcats for Life.

"On behalf of the entire Wildcat Family, I want to thank Mike for his immeasurable impact on our university. Mike, his wife Tina, and the entire Candrea family have been incredible supporters of Arizona Athletics and the University of Arizona and left an everlasting impact on all our lives. Thank you for defining the Wildcat Way and for what it means to Bear Down. Thank you for everything you did for the game of softball, for college athletics, and for the University of Arizona."

Candrea will officially announce his retirement at a media conference at McKale Center on Tuesday morning.

He will continue to serve in an advisory role at the university, in addition to assisting with coaching development for the athletics department, the university said.

"Over the past 36 years, Coach Mike Candrea has built Arizona Softball into one of the premier programs in the country," said University of Arizona President Dr. Robert C. Robbins in a statement. "His legacy is unmatched: 8 national titles, 1600+ wins, and – more importantly – the countless students who have told me their lives are better because he was their coach and mentor. As he retires, I know the impact of his example and leadership at the University of Arizona will continue for new generations of Wildcats. Truly an all-time great.