CANDREA RECEIVES USOC AWARD
ASA/USA Softball press release
Candrea
receives USOC Award
1/6/2005
CHULA VISTA,
CALIF. -- The United States Olympic Committee presented its most prestigious
award, the Olympic Shield, on Wednesday, January 5 to 2004 USA Softball Olympic
team head coach Mike Candrea (Casa Grande, Ariz.)
An honor given in recognition for an individual’s outstanding service to the
United States Olympic Committee and the Olympic movement, Candrea is only the
45th person to receive this award since 1966. The first ever Olympic coach in
the award’s 39 year history, this honor has only been awarded on 12 occasions
since its inception.
Mike Candrea led the 2004 USA Softball team to one of the most prolific team
performances in Olympic history. Persevering and battling during adverse times
is just one of the many lessons taught both on and off the field by Candrea.
When he was selected to be the 2004 Olympic coach in May of 2002, Candrea set
one goal and he accomplished it. Echoing numerous times of his will to ‘not just
win, but to dominate,’ Coach Candrea led his team to its third consecutive gold
medal and the cover of Sports Illustrated as ‘The Real Dream Team.’ One of the
most dominating performances in Olympic history, he led the Red, White and Blue
to a 9-0 record outscoring opponents 51-1.
Prior to the Games, Candrea and crew led his team across the nation in a 53-
game ‘Aiming for Athens’ pre-Olympic tour where they finished undefeated while
visiting approximately 30 U.S. cities.
But among all the glory and victories, there is one thing Mike Candrea taught
the 2004 team that means more than a gold medal. On July 18, Mike lost his wife
Sue unexpectedly while traveling during the ‘Aiming for Athens’ tour. A sudden
and tragic loss just ten days before leaving for Athens, Coach Candrea faced the
toughest moments of his life. Arriving in Greece a few short days after the
team, his unbelievable strength and poise guided the team to victory. He
stressed to each one of them the importance of cherishing every moment and that
this USA Softball family is the reason he continued to pursue Sue’s dream for
him to coach in the Olympic Games.
Led by his courage and words, he was very open with the team upon his arrival in
Athens – “I don’t want you to play for me or Sue during these Olympics, I want
you to play for your country.” Standing as a pillar of strength and feeding from
the support of the 18 players and coaches surrounding him, Candrea led his team
into the competition and to its third consecutive gold medal.
Following the triumphant victory, members of the U.S. team hoisted Coach Candrea
upon their shoulders and carried him off the field. A flood of emotions, it was
evident the impact this coach has made and will continue to make to so many
lives.
OLYMPIC SHIELD AWARD
This award is given in recognition of outstanding service to the
United States Olympic Committee
1966 -- H. Jamison Swarts, USOC Executive Board member
1966 -- Thomas F. Lennon, Assistant Secretary for delegation to 1964 Tokyo
Olympic Games
1966 -- Daniel J. Ferris, USOC Executive Board member
1966 -- James F. Simms
1969 -- Dr. Harry F. "Mickey" McPhee, Head physician at two Olympic Games
1969 -- Pincus Sober, USOC Executive Board member
1969 -- Albert Wheltle, Active in USOC for 20 years
1969 -- J. Lyman Bingham, USOC Executive Director (1950 65)
1969 -- Dr. Merritt Stiles, USOC Officer
1969 -- *Charles L. Ornstein, Active in USOC for 40 years
1969 -- Hon. Jeremiah T. Mahoney, USOC Executive Board member
1973 -- Lt. Gen. Henry W. Buse Jr., USOC Officer
1973 -- Hermann G. Rusch, Long time food director at Olympic Games
1981 -- Charles W. Buek, Investment Committee chair (1973 81)
1981 -- E. Newbold Black IV, USOC Officer
1981 -- Tenley Albright, USOC Officer
1981 -- Joel Ferrell Jr., USOC Officer
1983 -- Sen. Ted Stevens, Involved with Amateur Sports Act of 1978
1983 -- Patrick Sullivan, USOC Counselor
1983 -- George M. Wilson, USOC Executive Board member
1983 -- Edward H. Mosler Jr.
1985 -- William E. Simon, USOC President (1981-85)
1985 -- Harold "Hal" Henning, USOC Executive Board member
1985 -- Lawrence Hough, USOC Officer
1989 -- Andras Toro, USOC Officer
1989 -- Stephen B. Sobel, USOC Officer
1989 -- Evie G. Dennis, USOC Officer
1989 -- Howard C. Miller, USOC Officer
1989 -- Rudolph Sablo, USOC Executive Board member
1989 -- Col. Don Hull, USOC Executive Board member
1989 -- Richard Hollander, USOC Executive Board member
1989 -- Stephen Lieberman, USOC Executive Board member
1989 -- Daniel Steinman, USOC Executive Board member
1989 -- Russell C. Dermond, USOC Executive Board member
1989 -- Matthew Cusack, USOC Executive Board member
1989 -- Lt. Gen. A.P. Clark, USOC Executive Board member
1989 -- J. William Middendorf II, USOC Executive Board member
1990 -- Robert Sheppard, USOC Executive Board member
1990 -- Baaron Pittenger, USOC Executive Director
1996 -- Dr. Joe Kearney, Chair, USOC Games Preparation and Services
Committee/Board of Directors member
1996 -- Dr. Alpha Alexander, USOC Member Services subcommittee chair/Board of
Directors member
1997 -- Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty, counselor to President Bill Clinton; vice
chair of the White House Task Force on the 1996 Summer Olympic and Paralympic
Games
1997 -- Greg Harney, Director of USOC International Games Preparation Division
2004 -- Bill Martin, Acting USOC President
2005 – Mike Candrea, 2004 Olympic Women’s Softball Coach – Gold Medal
END