Dallas Wings Hire Ex-College Coach Jose Fernandez

Longtime South Florida Bulls head coach takes over WNBA's struggling franchise

Feb. 17, 2026 at 6:55am

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Dallas Wings have hired Jose Fernandez as their new head coach, bringing in the longtime South Florida Bulls coach to try and turn around the struggling WNBA franchise. Fernandez, who spent 25 years at the college level, explained his decision to make the jump to the professional ranks, citing the changing landscape of college athletics as a key factor.

Why it matters

The Wings have had a revolving door at head coach in recent years, with the team finishing with the worst record in the WNBA over the past two seasons. Fernandez's extensive college experience, including building a pro-ready system at South Florida, makes him an intriguing hire as the Wings look to end their struggles and compete for a WNBA title in the near future.

The details

In an interview, Fernandez said the "change in landscape, not only in women's college basketball but college athletics" was a key reason he decided to make the jump to the WNBA after 25 years at South Florida. He noted that he was "coaching professional sports in college, so why not make the leap to the WNBA?" Fernandez's arrival comes at a unique time, with a potential WNBA lockout looming over the 2026 season, though he expressed more excitement than nerves about the new challenge.

  • Fernandez spent the last 25 years as the head coach of the South Florida Bulls.
  • Fernandez was hired as the new head coach of the Dallas Wings in 2026.

The players

Jose Fernandez

The new head coach of the Dallas Wings, Fernandez spent the last 25 years as the head coach of the South Florida Bulls, building a pro-ready system at the college level.

Dallas Wings

The WNBA franchise that has struggled in recent years, finishing with the worst record in the league over the past two seasons. The Wings are hoping Fernandez can help turn the team around and lead them to a WNBA title.

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What they’re saying

“The change in landscape, not only in women's college basketball but college athletics, I was coaching professional sports in college, so why not make the leap to the WNBA?”

— Jose Fernandez, Head Coach, Dallas Wings

What’s next

Fernandez's arrival comes at a unique time, with a potential WNBA lockout looming over the 2026 season, though he expressed more excitement than nerves about the new challenge. The Wings will be hoping Fernandez can provide stability and lead the team to success after years of struggles.

The takeaway

Fernandez's jump from the college ranks to the WNBA represents an intriguing move, as the longtime South Florida coach looks to bring his pro-ready system to the professional level and help turn around a struggling Dallas Wings franchise. His extensive college experience makes him an interesting hire, as the Wings hope he can provide the stability and leadership to guide them back to contention in the WNBA.