Longtime South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez is reportedly on the verge of making the leap to the professional ranks, as he is expected to be named the next head coach of the Dallas Wings, according to college basketball insider Skim Milkey and SB Nation’s Mitchell Northam.
Although Fernandez has not yet officially signed a contract, sources indicate that both sides are close to finalizing a multi-year deal that would bring him to Dallas with a strong commitment from the organization. Fernandez, who has been mentioned for several weeks as a top candidate for the vacancy, is now poised to become the fifth head coach of the Wings in the past seven seasons—a clear sign of the franchise’s ongoing search for stability and long-term success. His arrival would come with the challenge of transforming the Wings into a consistent contender built around the dynamic play of Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, whose elite talent the team hopes to maximize under new leadership.
Fernandez’s potential move to the WNBA marks the end of a remarkable era at USF, where he has served as head coach since 2000. During his 25-year tenure in Tampa, he guided the Bulls to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, earning a reputation for developing tough, disciplined, and fundamentally sound teams that regularly competed with Power Five programs. Under his direction, South Florida evolved from a regional mid-major into one of the most respected programs outside the traditional power conferences, often landing in the national rankings and producing multiple professional players.
His transition to the WNBA mirrors a growing trend in women’s basketball, following similar career moves by Karl Smesko and Lynne Roberts, who left successful collegiate programs at FGCU and Utah last offseason to take over the Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks, respectively. Like them, Fernandez brings a reputation for player development, recruiting acumen, and tactical versatility—qualities that could make him a strong fit for a young Wings roster eager to take the next step.
The Wings’ pursuit of Fernandez also comes amid a broader wave of coaching hires across the league. The Toronto Tempo recently selected Sandy Brondello as the first head coach in franchise history, while the Portland Fire appointed Alex Sarama to lead their expansion roster. With those moves finalized, only the New York Liberty and Seattle Storm remain without head coaches heading into the next WNBA season—setting the stage for what could be a significant reshaping of the league’s coaching landscape.
