Wings Hire Top College Basketball Coach To Lead Paige Bueckers, Dallas Franchise

The Wings person decided to prosecute longtime USF women's hoops coach Jose Fernandez to return complete arsenic coach successful Dallas, sources confirmed to ESPN's Alexa Philippou connected Thursday. USF confirmed nan hiring successful a property release.

Fernandez will go nan Wings' 5th caput coach aft nan franchise fired Chris Koclanes pursuing 1 play pinch nan team. Dallas went 10-34 past play and vanished successful past spot successful nan convention contempt drafting Paige Bueckers astatine No. 1 successful nan spring, who was named nan WNBA's Rookie of nan Year.

This is simply a large move for Fernandez arsenic he's been coaching USF since 2000. In that 25-year span, Fernandez posted a 485-317 wide grounds and took nan Bulls to 10 NCAA tournaments, including this past season.

"Over nan past 25 years, Jose has been an exceptional leader, mentor and advocator for nan University of South Florida," USF athletics CEO Rob Higgins said successful nan release. "His effect connected USF Athletics and our assemblage organization is profound, and his bequest will beryllium remembered and celebrated for years to come."

The Wings whitethorn gain different first wide prime successful nan draught successful nan outpouring arsenic nan squad presently has nan champion likelihood to do so. Dallas will find retired their draught action successful nan WNBA draught lottery.

More WNBA connected Sports Illustrated