Geno Auriemma Explains Confidence In Jose Fernandez As Ideal Fit For Paige Bueckers’ Dallas Wings
When Geno Auriemma learned that the Dallas Wings had hired Jose Fernandez as Paige Bueckers’ new head coach, he didn’t hesitate to offer his full approval. The longtime UConn coach, who guided Bueckers through her decorated college career, said the Wings made an ideal choice to lead both his former star and the franchise’s next era.
“I’ve always thought he’s one of the best coaches in all of college basketball,” Auriemma said. “That’s why I think he would be great in Dallas, because he’ll bring some international players over. He’s very sophisticated in stuff that he does, which fits in well with what’s happening and what’s going to happen in that league.”
Auriemma and Fernandez share a connection that goes back more than two decades. The Hall of Fame coach recalled first meeting Fernandez in Pasadena shortly after he was hired at South Florida.
“He’s a great American. We kid him all the time about his Cuban heritage, Miami roots, and all the time he’s spent in Florida,” Auriemma said. “I remember having lunch with him in Pasadena at a set of games we were both watching. He had just gotten the job at South Florida, and we’ve been friends ever since.”
Auriemma said preparing to play Fernandez’s teams was always a unique challenge because of their style and international experience.
“Getting ready to play them is different than most any other team that you play, simply because of their international presence,” Auriemma said. “He’s able to coach them a little bit differently because of their experience playing overseas.”
Dallas Wings Add a Proven Leader With Global Reach
The Dallas Wings formally announced Fernandez as the team’s next head coach, bringing nearly 35 years of coaching experience to the organization. For the past 25 years, he served as head coach at the University of South Florida, where he became the program’s all-time winningest coach with nearly 500 career victories.
During his tenure, Fernandez led the Bulls to 19 postseason berths, including 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, and produced seven WNBA Draft picks, among them current players Courtney Williams of the Minnesota Lynx and Kitija Laksa of the Phoenix Mercury.
“Jose is one of the most respected veteran coaches in women’s basketball,” said Curt Miller, Dallas Wings executive vice president and general manager. “He 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.”
In total, nearly 30 of Fernandez’s former players are playing professionally around the world this season. Known for his ability to recruit and develop international players, Fernandez has coached athletes from more than 22 different countries and has won two gold medals with USA Basketball’s U18 and U19 national teams as an assistant coach.
Fernandez was officially hired on Nov. 14, 2000, at USF and later became a two-time American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. He also serves as the current President of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and was a finalist for the 2021 WBCA Division I National Coach of the Year.
In a statement, Fernandez expressed gratitude for the opportunity and a clear vision for Dallas’ next chapter.
“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.”
Geno Auriemma’s Confidence in Paige Bueckers, Jose Fernandez Pairing
Having seen Bueckers’ evolution up close, Auriemma believes the partnership between his former star and Fernandez has the potential to flourish immediately.
“I’m really happy for him. I’m thrilled for him. I’m happy for Paige,” Auriemma said. “He’s coming up here for a couple of days, so maybe I’ll get to pick his brain and ask a few things. I’m sure he’ll ask me about Paige, and I’ll be glowing.”
Auriemma said he expects the relationship between player and coach to be built on mutual trust and collaboration.
“A great player can play for any coach, if they want to,” he said. “Now, if they get a coach that doesn’t believe and doesn’t have a collaboration with Paige, then that would be a difficult journey.”
As the Wings prepare for their 2026 WNBA season, Auriemma’s confidence in both Fernandez and Bueckers suggests that Dallas has found the right combination to move the franchise forward.
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