Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller believed he was hiring a steady hand when he appointed former USC and Connecticut Sun assistant Chris Koclanes as head coach ahead of the 2025 season. Koclanes was expected to bring a defensive edge to a team built around rising superstar Paige Bueckers.
However, things did not go as planned. The Dallas Wings ended the year ranked 11th out of 13 WNBA teams in defensive rating, falling short of expectations on both ends of the floor. The disappointing finish prompted Miller to dismiss Koclanes and reopen the search for a new head coach in Dallas.
Determined not to repeat last season’s mistake, the Dallas Wings shifted focus toward more experienced coaching candidates. The franchise was reportedly among the finalists for two-time WNBA champion Sandy Brondello, who instead accepted the Toronto Tempo job on Wednesday.
By Thursday, Dallas had found its next leader in longtime University of South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez.
A Miami native, Fernandez has spent the past 25 years building South Florida into one of the NCAA’s most respected women’s basketball programs. Taking over in 2000, he guided the Bulls to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and a WNIT championship in 2009.
His teams captured American Athletic Conference titles in 2021 and 2023, and his 2024–25 squad went 23-1 before falling to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament’s opening round.
During his tenure, eight of his players reached the WNBA, including Minnesota Lynx guard and two-time All-Star Courtney Williams. Fernandez compiled an impressive 485–317 record at USF, establishing a reputation for player development, discipline, and consistency.
His move follows a growing trend of successful college coaches transitioning to the WNBA. Both Karl Smesko (Atlanta) and Lynne Roberts (Los Angeles) made similar moves last year, signaling a new wave of collegiate coaching influence across the league.
Reports indicate he was a finalist for the Dallas position last year before the organization chose Koclanes. The Dallas Wings will look to Fernandez to restore structure, accountability, and competitiveness to a talented but inconsistent roster led by Bueckers.
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