Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea isn’t planning to go out on top – at least, not after this season.

Candrea put to rest the rumor that he will be leaving the Wildcats for good following his leave of absence starting in January to coach the U.S. National Team in the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Wildcats won their eighth national title, all amassed under Candrea, with a 5-0 victory over Tennessee last Wednesday.

“”This is not my last game at Arizona,”” he said. “”I don’t know who’s jumping the gun, but that’s far from the truth.””

Current assistant coaches Larry Ray and Nancy Evans are projected to be co-head coaches in Candrea’s spot.

Even if the Wildcats lost to the Lady Vols in the Women’s College World Series, Candrea said that it would not have pushed him away from his team.

“”If we would have gotten beat, I still would have been proud,”” he said. “”Everyone likes to win. We’ve had a lot of second-place finishes, so I know the feeling.””