Dallas Wings Set to Hire Jose Fernandez as New Head Coach
About a year ago, the Dallas Wings made headlines by bringing on a head coach who was completely new to the role. Now, after parting ways with Chris Kolkenes last month, the franchise is looking in an entirely different direction.
According to multiple sources, the Wings are focusing on bringing in Jose Fernandez as their next head coach. The agreement is expected to feature a multi-year term, which sounds promising.
While Fernandez hasn’t coached in the WNBA before, he boasts a lengthy and respected career as a head coach in women’s college basketball.
Hailing from Miami, Florida, Fernandez has been at the helm of the South Florida program since 2000, turning the Bulls into a solid presence among mid-major teams. Under his guidance, the team has an impressive overall record of 485-317 and has claimed nine out of the last 12 NCAA tournament appearances. Since 2021, the Bulls have secured three conference championships. He also celebrated a significant achievement back in 2009 with a WNIT Championship.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Fernandez serves as the president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. However, it’s uncertain if he’ll maintain that position while taking the reins in the WNBA. When he was appointed WBCA president earlier this year, UConn’s Geno Auriemma praised Fernandez’s dedication to the sport, saying he truly puts in the effort.
Most recently, he has worked with Team USA, assisting the U19 team and U18 unit, both of which secured gold medals. Throughout his tenure at USF, Fernandez has also nurtured multiple players who moved on to the WNBA, including Courtney Williams, who played under Dallas GM Kurt Miller during her five seasons with the Connecticut Sun.
Miller, who took over as the general manager for the Wings last November, did meet with Fernandez prior to hiring Kolkenes. However, several factors prevented Fernandez from taking the position at that time, such as the timing of the USF season and a few logistical challenges.
Interestingly, over the past year, two factors have made Fernandez’s buyout more manageable, dropping it from around $1 million to approximately $250,000. A clause in his contract halved the buyout upon the departure of USF’s athletic director, who left in June for another role. Additionally, a new stipulation was added that further reduced the buyout if he accepted a WNBA coaching position instead of returning to college.
Now, Fernandez is stepping into the Dallas Wings role following a tough 10-34 season that put them at the bottom of the WNBA. Despite that, the job has its appeal for various reasons.
The Wings possess a promising young core, led by Paige Bueckers, who was named WNBA Rookie of the Year and also made the All-Star and All-WNBA teams in her debut season. The team’s roster also includes first-round draft pick Asiaha James, third-round pick JJ Kunary, and promising talents like Madi Siegrist and Diamond Miller. Furthermore, they are likely to have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2026 WNBA Draft. Plus, they still hold rights to tall player Awaku Kuyer, currently playing overseas.
To top it all off, Dallas is set to unveil a brand new 70,700 square foot practice facility ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, which is definitely a plus.
As the organization narrowed down its list of candidates, notable names included Baylor’s Nikki Collen and Sandy Brondello, the former coach of the New York Liberty. Reports suggest that Brondello is now in line to coach the new Toronto Tempo expansion team.
With USF’s season kicking off in just 11 days, Michelle Woods-Baxter, the associate head coach at USF for 18 years, will take over as interim head coach this season.
“It’s bittersweet for us, but a wonderful opportunity for Jose to pursue his professional goals,” said USF Athletics CEO Rob Higgins. He added that Michelle’s leadership will effectively guide the athletes through a demanding season.
Due to the coaching change, the NCAA transfer portal is now open for USF players, allowing them 30 days to explore their options.
Fernandez is known for implementing a “4-high” or zone offense, which has proven successful in college, often enabling the Bulls to challenge stronger opponents. WNBA fans will surely be keen to see how Bueckers and the rest of the team adapt to his coaching style.
