Jose Luis Fernandez (born November 18, 1971) is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach of the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). He previously served as the head coach of the South Florida Bulls women's basketball team from 2000 to 2025.
Coaching career Early coaching career (1991–2000)
Fernandez started in coaching while working on his associate degree at Miami-Dade CC Kendall, where he earned his degree in 1991. Fernandez served as a student assistant coach for the men's basketball team and was immediately thrown into the fray with on-floor coaching, scouting, and overseeing recruiting correspondence.
After graduating from Miami-Dade Kendall, Fernandez earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1994 from Florida International University. Along with his coaching duties at the beginning of his professional career, Fernandez also taught physical education at Miami's Coral Reef Senior High School, Southwest Senior High School and Hialeah Middle School.
While at Miami-Dade, Fernandez met Cesar Odio, who hired him as a student assistant and later promoted him to a full-time assistant coach in 1991. Fernandez stayed at Miami-Dade for one season (1991–92) before becoming the assistant boys’ basketball coach at Miami's Sunset High School from 1992 until 1994.
Following his two seasons at Sunset, Fernandez and Odio renewed acquaintances when Odio was tabbed head men's basketball coach at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida (1994–1996). Fernandez came along as Odio's top assistant. During his two-year stay at Barry, Fernandez helped the Buccaneers to consecutive winning seasons, after the program only produced two in the first 10 years, and a combined 34–21 record.
Fernandez began coaching girls’ basketball in 1996, when he secured his first head coaching job at Miami's Lourdes Academy. During his three seasons at Lourdes, Fernandez led the Bobcats to an 83–16 (.838) record and a trip to the state Class 5A championship game in 1998 where they finished as the runner-up. In addition to his coaching responsibilities at Lourdes, Fernandez established roots among high school coaches from around Florida and the nation as director and founder of the successful Miami Suns AAU program.
Fernandez broke into collegiate women's basketball when he returned to Barry for his second of two tours of duty at the school. In his second stint, he served one year (1999–2000) as the top assistant coach for the Buccaneers. In that season, Fernandez helped Barry record the second-most wins in the program's history as the Buccaneers posted a 22–8 record and the program's second-best slate ever in the Sunshine State Conference at 10–4.
South Florida (2000–2025)
2000–01
Fernandez was named head coach of the Bulls on November 14, 2000, and began laying the foundation for what would be the success of the current USF women's basketball program.
2001–02
Fernandez's first Division I recruiting class was ranked No. 36 in America by the All-Star Girls Report, the highest-ranked class in the history of the women's basketball program. That class provided instant dividends for USF as the Bulls opened 7–0 en route to their first winning season in four years (14–13) after going 4–24 the previous year. In that seven-game stretch, the Bulls defeated in-state rival and then BIG EAST Conference member Miami before falling to Florida for their first loss of the year.
2002–03
Fernandez followed his original recruiting class with a group that was tabbed 40th in America as it entered the 2002–03 campaign.
2003–04 (WNIT)
The Bulls’ 33rd ranked class included freshmen Jessica Dickson, Nalini Miller and Rachael Sheats, along with junior college transfer Anedra Gilmore. Along with this core group of newcomers and veteran returnees, Fernandez helped the Bulls advance to the postseason for the first time in school history when they faced Richmond in the first round of the WNIT
2004–05 (WNIT)
The Bulls recorded their best record (21–11) and set a school mark for wins in conference play (9–5). The team advanced to its second-consecutive WNIT, which included a home victory against Florida.
2005–06 (NCAA Tournament)
USF earned its first NCAA Tournament bid. Although the Bulls fell just short of the win total of the previous year, they made history by earning a No. 9 seed in the Bridgeport Region and were defeated 67–65 by No. 8 seed USC at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
The Bulls defeated nationally ranked DePaul (79–77 OT) and Notre Dame (68–64 OT). USF boasted a 19–12 record and a 9–7 conference slate (sixth in the BIG EAST).
The team's 2005–06 slate was the toughest in school history. The Bulls faced eventual Final Four participants No. 7/8 North Carolina, No. 13/15 Michigan State, and No. 3/3 LSU all prior to their conference schedule.
2006–07 (WNIT)
On December 28, 2006, with a 77–62 win against Vermont in the first round of the Saint Joseph's University Hawk Classic, Fernandez became the USF women's basketball team's career leader in wins, surpassing former Bulls’ head coach and former Charlotte Sting leader Trudi Lacey.
Later, Fernandez recorded his 100th career win a 66–49 win against Coppin State on March 19, 2007 in the second round of the WNIT. In addition, that appearance in the WNIT was the program's fourth straight postseason trip for USF, a first for either basketball program at the school.
2007–08 (WNIT)
The Bulls (16–16) advanced to their fifth consecutive postseason event, facing Florida Gulf Coast in the WNIT. USF knocked off No. 25 DePaul, 78–73, and defeated Syracuse in the BIG EAST Tournament's first round, 68–67 in overtime. The Orange had just dropped out of the Top 25 prior to their loss to the Bulls.
2008–09 (WNIT Champions)
Fernandez guided the Bulls to their most successful campaign. USF registered a school-record 27 wins and finished at least .500 (8-8) for the third time in the program's four years in the BIG EAST Conference. The Bulls had a second-place finish in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. with wins against Iowa, in overtime, and Texas Tech. The only loss during the event would come at the hands of No. 3 ranked California. USF defeated Rutgers on the road for the first time, and handed DePaul a crucial setback.
After advancing to their sixth consecutive postseason tournament, the Bulls made history by going 5–0 in the WNIT. After defeating Florida Gulf Coast in overtime and Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss at home, USF embarked on a three-game, 10-day road odyssey that began in western New York with an 80–66 win at St. Bonaventure, then an 82–65 victory at Boston College. The Bulls headed to the nation's heartland where they handed Kansas a 75–71 loss in the WNIT finals in front of a record crowd of 16,113 at historic Allen Fieldhouse.
2009–10 (WNIT)
The Bulls advanced to their seventh consecutive postseason and posted a 15–16 record.
2010–11
USF finished 12–19 (3–13 slate in conference play) following its big 60–55 home win against No. 17/19 Georgetown in Tampa. After the season concluded, USF broke ground on its state-of-the-art practice facility, the Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center.
2011–12 (WNIT)
Fernandez guided USF to 19 wins despite having no true home games as the Sun Dome underwent renovations. The Bulls advanced to the WNIT's third round before falling at James Madison.
2012–13 (NCAA Tournament)
The Bulls made just the program's second NCAA Tournament appearance, earning a berth with 21 regular-season wins, including back-to-back wins against No. 12 Louisville on the road and No. 21 Syracuse at home. The Bulls defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders 71–70 for their first NCAA Tournament victory, then lost to eventual Final Four team California in overtime, after a thrilling second-half comeback. Fernandez was the only coach to play all Final Four teams in 2012–13, defeating Louisville, losing to Notre Dame and California in overtime, and facing UConn in the regular season. Fernandez picked up win No. 200 of his career when USF defeated Detroit 74–60. Andrea Smith was drafted by the Connecticut Sun, adding to the trail of USF's post-college success.
2013–14 (WNIT)
USF made a deep run in the WNIT Tournament and Fernandez came one game shy of playing for his second WNIT Championship as the Bulls fell to Rutgers at home. The 23–13 season set the stage for the 2014–15 run.
2014–15 (NCAA Tournament)
Fernandez posted the program's sixth 20-win season (and third consecutive). The Bulls made history with two Top 25 rankings in the AP Poll en route to the program's best record (27–8). The Bulls reached a conference tournament championship game for the first time, grabbed the best NCAA Tournament seed in school history (No. 6), and hosted the early rounds for the first time. Fernandez coached an All-Region player for the third time in three years, and Williams was among the 12 Wade Trophy Finalists.
2015–16 (NCAA Tournament)
The Bulls returned to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years and ended the season in the top-25 for the second straight season. Along with coaching the program's first All-American, Fernandez achieved the highest ranking in program history (No. 15 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches’ polls). USF made its 12th postseason run in 13 seasons and its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
The graduating class was the first to make three NCAA appearances. It reached the postseason four times and made back-to-back trips to the AAC Tournament title game. Fernandez coached the program's first WBCA All-American (Williams), and the third-highest drafted Bull in USF Athletics history. Fernandez also guided Laksa to the program's second conference Freshman of the Year honor.
2016–17 (NCAA Tournament)
The Bulls entered the season being ranked for 22 consecutive weeks. They had the most successful non-conference record. For the second straight year, Fernandez coached the league's Freshman of the Year (Tamara Henshaw) and a unanimous conference first-team selection (Laksa). On January 17, 2017, Fernandez, the all-time winningest coach in USF basketball history, reached his 300th career win in front of a home crowd at the Yuengling Center. The Bulls reached the AAC Tournament title game for the third straight season.
2017–18 (NCAA Tournament)
USF reached its fourth straight AAC Tournament championship game and made its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Fernandez was named AAC Coach of the Year. The Bulls were led by seniors Laia Flores and Jespersen, who earned AP honorable-mention All-America honors, and junior guard Kitija Laksa. USF finished 26–8, which included an 84–65 home trouncing of No. 13 Ohio State.
2018–19 (WNIT)
Decimated by season-ending injuries, USF battled into the AAC Tournament semifinals for the sixth straight season. The Bulls, ranked No. 22 nationally, extended their postseason appearance streak to eight as they advanced to the WNIT second round. USF posted marquee non-conference wins against Ohio State (71–47 on the road), Oklahoma (87–70), UCLA (60–56), and George Washington (63–60), en route to a 9–2 start. The Bulls also nearly stunned No. 2 UConn at the Yuengling Center on Senior Night, trailing the Huskies by one with just over six minutes to play, before UConn ended the game on a 9–0 run. Enna Pehadzic was tabbed a second-team All-Conference selection while Harvey was named to the All-Freshman Team.
2019–20 *
(Postseason canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)