Mike Candrea is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in the history of college athletics.

As the former head coach of the University of Arizona softball program, Candrea led the Wildcats to 8 national championships, 24 Women’s College World Series appearances, and compiled a record 1,674 career victories (the most in NCAA softball history at the time of his retirement). He coached 53 NCAA All-Americans across his storied career.

He also coached Team USA to an Olympic gold medal in 2004 and a silver medal in 2008. He currently serves as a Special Advisor in Athletics at the University of Arizona, continuing to mentor coaches and shape the culture of the unversity's athletic department.

In addition to his impact as a coach, Coach Candrea was also a pioneer in the sport as the University of Arizona became the first school to build an on-campus facility dedicated to softball with the construction of the original Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in 1993. After Candrea’s retirement in 2021, the venue officially became Mike Candrea Field at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:

[22:28] — The 3 C's of His Coaching Philosophy

[33:34] — Defining Success Beyond the Championships

[37:37] — Being Where Your Feet Are

[42:18] — Failing Forward

[53:27] — The 1% Better Mentality

[1:01:12] — Working Smarter, Not Harder

[1:08:34] — How to Create Balance in Pursuit of Excellence

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Mike Candrea | Hall of Fame Softball Coach at University of Arizona | "Be Where Your Feet Are"