USA Softball head coach Mike Candrea has been named as a top five finalist for the USOC National Coach of the Year Award. The award will be presented during an October 17 dinner at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Candrea, who is in his first year as the USA Softball head coach, is the only summer sport finalist among the five. The other coach of the year finalists are Ryan Davenport, skeleton; Peter Del'Giudice, snowboard; Wolfgang Schadler, luge; and Robin Wagner, figure skating.

Candrea becomes the second softball coach to be a finalist for USOC National Coach of the Year. Olympic head coach Ralph Raymond was named as a finalist in 2000 after leading the USA to gold at the Olympic Games in Sydney.

Go to the USA Softball web site for the complete news release.