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The Dallas Wings will welcome a new coach for the fourth time in five seasons.
Multiple sources confirmed to Front Office Sports that the Wings are set to hire University of South Florida coach Jose Fernandez to lead a young team anchored by 2025 Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers. While the deal has yet to be finalized, USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins already gave an official statement on Fernandez’s departure.
“Jose Fernandez has informed me of his decision to pursue an opportunity to coach at the next level in the WNBA,” the statement said. “While this is a bittersweet moment for our program, it is a well-deserved opportunity for Jose to realize a professional dream, and we are incredibly proud of him.”
Fernandez was among a pool of candidates that also included two-time title winning coach Sandy Brondello.
The New York Liberty fired Brondello after just two seasons, and less than a year removed from bringing the franchise its first title. Brondello has since been tapped to be the first coach of the Toronto Tempo, one of the WNBA’s 2026 expansion franchises, a source confirmed to FOS.
Chris Koclanes was hired by the franchise out of USC last December, though he had significant WNBA experience before that. After leading the Wings to a 10–34 record in his first and only season, he was fired.
Fernandez has a buyout of about $250,000, according to SB Nation, down from $1 million because of multiple clauses in his contract. The first clause stated that if USF changed athletic directors, Fernandez’s buyout would see a 50% decrease. The second, decreasing it by another 50%, was if he left for a WNBA job.
In 25 seasons, Fernandez amassed a record of 485-317, including 10 tournament years. USF never made it to the Sweet 16 during Fernandez’s tenure.
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