Retired head coach Mike Candrea, who guided the USA National Softball Team to a pair of Olympic medals (gold in 2004 and silver in 2008), was honoured by University of Arizona by naming their field after the legendary coach. The ceremony was held at the half time of a basketball game, in front of a packed stadium that paid homage to Candrea with an emotional standing ovation.
“What a lucky guy I am to represent this great university,” Candrea told the sold-out crowd in McKale Center. “I’ll share something from Lou Gehrig, ‘I’m the luckiest man in the world right now.’ Thank you.”
Olympic athletes and former Arizona softball players joined Candrea in the ceremony and expressed their recognition on social media.
Candrea posted a 17-1 record in the Olympic Games, becoming the head coach with more wins in the Olympic Games and the best winning percentage (.944) in history. He managed USA’s gold medal winning team in Athens 2004, remembered as one of the best teams in the sport’s history. Candrea alse led the 2008 squad, who finished with the silver medal in Beijing.
He coached Arizona for 35 before retiring of the managerial position in 2021. He clinched eight NCAA national championships and collected an overal 1,674–433–2 record (.794).
