Years as a Coach: 31

Birth date: Aug. 29, 1955, New Orleans, La.

College: Arizona State, 1978

Advanced Degree: Master’s, ASU, 1980

Children: Son, Mikel (28), daughter, Michelle (25)

Grandson: Jaylen, born Oct. 27, 2005

Married Tina Tilton on December 30, 2006 in Tucson, Ariz.

• 2006 Named to NCAA Division I Softball 25th Anniversary team as head coach

• 2004 USOC Olympic Shield Award

• 2004 University of Arizona Honorary Alumnus

• 1996 Elected to NFCA Hall of Fame

 

• Eight NCAA National Championship titles

• Nine Pac-10 Conference regular season titles

• Ten Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors

• 12 NCAA Title Game Appearances

• Won 1100th NCAA Division I game in 2007

• Two-time NFCA Division I Coach of the Year (1996 & 1997)

• NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year (2007)

• Coached five Honda Softball Award winners

• Coached a total of 79 All-America citations for 34 different players.

• Produced five National Player of the Year winners

• Head Coach of USA National Team that won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China

 

• Head Coach of USA National Team which captured gold medals at the Canada Cup, World Cup, Pan American Games and Japan Cup

 

• Head coach of USA National Team that won its first World Cup title with an undefeated record and defended its sixth consecutive World Championship gold medal in Beijing, China

 

• Head Coach of USA National Team who finished second in the World Cup and Japan Cup

 

• Head Coach of USA National Team who captured its third Olympic gold medal with a perfect 9-0 record; Team USA outscored opponents 51-1

 

• Head Coach of USA National Team that captured the Pan American gold medal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

 

• Head Coach of USA National Team who claimed the World Championship gold medal in Saskatoon, S.K., Canada

 

About Candrea

Prior to Arizona, Candrea began his softball coaching career at Central Arizona College from 1981-85. His team won consecutive NCAA World Series in his final two seasons, earning him national coach the year honors each time. Prior to coaching softball, he was an assistant baseball coach at Central from 1976-80. A baseball player at Central, Candrea’s playing career was cut short by an elbow injury. He earned an associate’s degree at Central in 1975, a bachelor’s degree at Arizona State in 1978 and a master’s degree from ASU in 1980. Candrea was married to the former Sue Ellen Hudson for 28 years until her tragic death in July 2004, just 10 days prior to the Olympic Games. On Dec. 30, 2006, Candrea opened a new chapter of his life, as he wed the former Tina Tilton at The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona. Candrea has a son Mikel, 28, and daughter Michelle, 25, in addition to stepsons Ryan and Sean Tilton. Mikel, a 2004 Arizona graduate, had worked with the baseball team and strength and conditioning programs prior to his graduation. He is currently in his second year as an assistant softball coach at Pacific. Michelle celebrated the birth of her son, Jaylen Mikel, on Oct. 27, 2005. Jaylen is Candrea’s first grandchild. Ryan is a student at Arizona and works as a personal trainer. Sean recently completed his redshirt freshman season as a defensive lineman on Mike Stoops’ Arizona football team.