Coaching turnover leaves UA's Candrea alone at top

Softball coach has been at UA the longest 

When Mike Candrea was hired as Arizona’s softball coach, there was no Hillenbrand Stadium. 

There was no soccer program, and the football team was two years away from hiring Dick Tomey — and 19 away from hiring Mike Stoops.

Rich Rodriguez? He was 22, freshly graduated from college and a student assistant at West Virginia.

Lute Olson was in his second year as Arizona’s coach, and Sean Miller was still in high school.

That’s 30 years.

Candrea was hired as the Arizona coach in August 1985, just before that school year started, by athletic director Cedric Dempsey. Dempsey led to Jim Livengood, who led to Greg Byrne.

Candrea is Arizona’s longest tenured coach in 2015. There have been other mainstays throughout the years. Rick LaRose was the golf coach for 34 years, Frank Busch the swim coach for 22. They’re both gone now, though — LaRose retired, while Busch moved on to USA Swimming.

Bill Ryden, the UA's gymnastics coach, stepped down in April after 17 years at the UA. Baseball coach Andy Lopez retired nine days ago after 14 years in charge.

“Every year you get to the point where you ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing what I’m doing?” Candrea said last week. “And I still do love what I’m doing.”

Candrea is a legend — and an exception. Just seven UA coaches — out of 16 men's and women's sports —  remain from 2010. Here's who they are: 

Mike Candrea, softball 

Years as UA coach: 30

Hired by: Cedric Dempsey in 1985

Career record: 1,558-413-2.

All-Americans: 55

All-conference selections: 149

Notable accomplishments: Eight-time NCAA champion, five-time runner-up, 10-time Pac-10/12 champion, 10-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year, three-time National Coach of the Year

He said it: “It’s really crazy, to tell you the truth. It doesn’t seem that long.” — Candrea last week 

Dave Rubio, volleyball 

Years as UA coach: 23

Hired by: Dempsey in 1992

Career record: 379-219

All-Americans: 12

All-conference selections: 30

He said it: “It is crazy, when you see that number. The time really does slip by, and when you're so focused on what you do every day the years go by quickly, and all of a sudden you're no longer the youngest guys on the block; you're one of the oldest guys in the department." — Rubio in 2013, before his 22nd season 

Vicky Maes, women's tennis 

Years as UA coach: 14

Hired by: Jim Livengood in 2001

All-conference selections: 10

Notable accomplishments: Won the 2003 Ojai Pac-10 title, named 2014 Southwest Region Coach of the Year

She said it: "I love the UA. I could never see myself coaching anywhere else. To get an opportunity to come into this program as a head coach and be given that vote of confidence, I don't take it lightly.'' — Maes in 2002 

Fred Harvey, track and field 

Years as UA coach: 13

Hired by: Livengood in 2002

All-Americans: 173

Notable accomplishments: Coached 46 individual national champions (indoor and outdoor); has helped the men’s outdoor team finish in the top-25 for nine straight years; named 2011 Pac-10 Coach of the Year

He said it: “"When you accept a position of leadership like this, certain things come with the job. It's my responsibility to be a role model." — Harvey in 2002 

Tad Berkowitz, men's tennis 

Years as UA coach: 10

Hired by: Livengood in 2005

All-Americans: 0

All-Conference: 5

Notable accomplishments: 2009 Pac-10 Coach of the Year

He said it: “He's a bright, young coach whose organizational skills and aggressive style made him the best possible fit for our program.” — Livengood in 2005 

Niya Butts, women's basketball 

Years as UA coach: 7

Hired by: Livengood in 2008

Career record: 89-128

All-Americans: 0

All-Conference: 7

Notable accomplishments: Coached two WNBA draft picks, coached the 2010 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (Ify Ibekwe)

She said it: ““It is an amazing feeling to be the head coach at Arizona. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for. Arizona is a great place, and I am looking forward to taking the Wildcats to the next level.” — Butts in 2008 

Sean Miller, men's basketball 

Years as UA coach: 6

Hired by: Livengood in 2009

Career record: 163-52

All-Americans: 2

All-Conference: 13

Notable accomplishments: Three Elite Eight appearances, 2-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year, coached two Pac-12 Player of the Years, 3-time Pac-12 regular season champion, 1-time Pac-12 Tournament champion

He said it: “That's why I'm here, to be able to build on Coach Olson's legacy and move us through this transition period and continue to have that great success that you deserve with the incredible investment that your community makes in our program.” — Miller in 2009

Byrne has solid track record

Greg Byrne will soon pick a replacement for Andy Lopez, the UA baseball coach who recently retired.

Byrne’s track record in hiring coaches at Arizona has been solid. Here’s a list at who the athletic director has brought into the fold as Wildcats coaches since 2010.