It’s official: the Dallas Wings have named longtime University of South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez as their next head coach. Fernandez, USF’s head coach for 25 seasons, replaces Chris Koclanes after one year at the helm.
The hire, first reported by SB Nation’s Mitchell Northam, was made official on Monday afternoon.
Wings General Manager Curt Miller referred to Fernandez as one of the most respected veteran coaches in women’s basketball in a press release.
“He is a proven winner and has built sustained success for over two decades at USF,” Miller said. “Jose consistently produces professional players and is regarded as an excellent developer of talent. His colleagues from across the country constantly credit his teams for their preparation and grit, while continuously raising the bar for success on the court. He is known for putting his players in a position to succeed. Lastly, as the game and WNBA continue to become global, no coach in this country has recruited and successfully coached international players better than Jose. I can’t wait to partner with Jose and support his vision for our Dallas Wings.”
Fernandez joins the Wings as USF’s all-time winningest coach. He led the Bulls to 19 or more wins in 14 consecutive seasons and to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. More than 100 of his players went on to have professional basketball careers — including Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams and Phoenix Mercury guard Kitja Laksa. In total, nearly 30 of Fernandez’s former players are actively playing professionally in 2025-26.
The Dallas Wings get their third head coach in three seasons
The status of the Wings’ incoming roster remains uncertain; reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers is under contract until 2028, as are fellow rookies Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly. But, several key pieces — Arike Ogunbowale, Tyasha Harris, and Li Yueru, among others — are free agents this summer, as are most stars in the WNBA.
Last year, the Wings finished with the league’s worst record at 10-34. Per Tankathon, the Wings have a 40% chance at the No. 1 pick, and they’re guaranteed a Top 3 pick. UCLA’s Lauren Betts, TCU’s Olivia Miles, and UConn’s Azzi Fudd are all among those expected to be in the lottery, among others.
Four WNBA teams have selected new head coaches ahead of next season. In addition to the Wings, the Portland Fire hired Alex Sarama, the Toronto Tempo reportedly hired Sandy Brondello, and the Seattle Storm hired current New York Liberty assistant coach Sonia Raman. The Liberty head coach position remains open.
For Dallas, Fernandez marks the third coach in three seasons. Latricia Tramell served as head coach in 2024 and was followed by Chris Koclanes in 2024.
“I want to thank Curt Miller, Greg Bibb, and the entire Dallas Wings organization for this Incredible opportunity,” Fernandez said. “We will be relentless in our pursuit of excellence, approaching everything we do with elite standards and a championship mindset. I couldn’t be more excited to serve as your Head Coach and will work tirelessly to lead this organization to a level of success that both the Wings and the DFW community can be proud of.”
