Jose Fernandez is claimed to be the leading prospect for the Dallas Wings’ mentoring openings– and the College of South Florida currently validating he’s taken a WNBA role
DALLAS– Conjecture is swirling about Jose Fernandez being the most likely selection for the open Dallas Wings head mentoring task, with electrical outlets such as SB Country and ESPN reporting that the offer’s statement impends.
If Fernandez is undoubtedly the hire, he will load the function that ended up being left when the group discharged its previous trainer, Chris Koclanes, after simply one period on the Wings bench.
Could Fernandez be the trainer to assist bring a gaining society to the Wings, and lead Paige Bueckers and firm to the playoffs? And that is he, anyhow?
The now-former College of South Florida (USF) trainer’s return to provides a clear photo of his history.
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Who is Jose Fernandez?
Fernandez has actually led USF ladies’s basketball considering that 2000, noting 25 years as the Bulls’ head trainer. Under his management, the Bulls have actually made 10 NCAA Event looks, logged 12 20-win periods and got to postseason play in 19 of the last 22 years. The Bulls have actually been rated in the AP Top 25 for 79 weeks throughout the last 9 periods.
Fernandez’s performance history of gamer growth is fairly remarkable. He has actually trained greater than 40 all-conference gamers, 7 WNBA draft choices and several All-Americans. Significant pros that turned up under his assistance consist of Minnesota Lynx Courtney Williams, Maria Jespersen, and current draftees Elena Tsineke and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu. His groups have actually additionally created seminar award-winners in almost every classification– from Gamer of the Year to Defensive and A lot of Better honors.
Throughout 25 periods, Fernandez has actually collected a 416-285 document, and two times made AAC Train of the Year honors (2018, 2021). His groups have actually recorded several seminar titles, as well, consisting of both the AAC regular-season and event champions in 2020-21, in addition to the 2025 AAC Event crown, which protected the program’s 10th NCAA berth.
A Miami local, Fernandez started his mentoring job at Miami-Dade Neighborhood University and later on worked as an aide for Barry College’s guys’s group prior to developing programs at the senior high school and college degrees. His period at Miami’s Lourdes Academy (1996– 99) consisted of an 83-16 document and a journey to the state title video game, establishing the structure for his delve into ladies’s university basketball.
According to USF’s web site, Fernandez ended up being understood for organizing top-tier challengers– from UConn and Stanford to Baylor and Tennessee– and for his hiring reach. His lineups have actually included gamers from 18 various nations, offering the Bulls among one of the most internationally varied accounts in the NCAA.
Currently, after greater than 20 years in Tampa florida, Fernandez’s name is appearing in WNBA circles.
He has actually never ever trained at the specialist degree. Yet that appears inescapable currently: USF validated Fernandez’s separation for a WNBA possibility on Thursday mid-day.
Under Koclanes this previous period, Dallas published a 10-34 document– the franchise business’s worst considering that transferring to Dallas.
The Wings have an assumption of success for a lineup that consists of novice of the year Bueckers. The group’s current inadequate play has actually additionally made it the very best probabilities for the No. 1 choice in the 2026 draft, assuring the franchise business a top-two choice.
Fernandez has actually not formally authorized with the Wings, ESPN records, yet he is anticipated to ink a bargain as quickly as Friday.
