USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins announced the news in a statement on X, after Fernandez informed the school of his decision to move on from the program.
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“Women’s basketball head coach Jose Fernandez has informed me of his decision to pursue an opportunity to coach at the next level in the WNBA,” Higgins said in the statement. “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.”
He continued to thank Fernandez for his 25 years in Tampa and shared that associate head coach Michele Woods-Baxter would take over USF’s interim head coach position for the 2025-26 season. She has been with the school for the past 17 seasons.
During his time with USF, Fernandez helped lead the team to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, 12 20-win seasons, nine seasons earning a Top 25 ranking, and 485 total wins.
Fernandez will be the fifth head coach for the Wings in just seven seasons. He will lead star players, including the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick Paige Bueckers and veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale. The squad went 10-34 in the 2025 season and tied with the Chicago Sky for last place in the WNBA standings.
This is one of the many head coach vacancies filled following the conclusion of the 2025 WNBA season. The Toronto Tempo are expected to hire former New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello as the first head coach for the franchise, as reported by The IX Basketball’s Howard Megdal. The Portland Fire have hired NBA Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Alex Sarama as its inaugural head coach. The Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty are still searching for their next head coaches.
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