‘This Won’t Be The Same Old Dallas Wings, My Brother’: Jose Fernandez Outlines Vision To Build Winning Culture Around Paige Bueckers

Grant AfsethNovember 6, 2025November 6, 2025no comment

Photo by Dallas Wings

The Dallas Wings officially turned the page to a new era on Thursday as Jose Fernandez was introduced as the franchise’s new head coach during a press conference alongside general manager Curt Miller.

The introductory press conference symbolized both renewal and ambition for a team determined to rebound from a last-place finish in 2025 and build a sustainable contender around one of the brightest young stars in women’s basketball, Paige Bueckers.

For Fernandez, the move marks the next step in a distinguished career that spanned 25 years at the University of South Florida, where he led the Bulls to consistent national relevance through player development, international recruiting, and a pro-style offensive system.

For the Wings, his hiring reflects the culmination of an exhaustive search focused on experience, innovation, and a proven ability to build lasting culture — qualities the organization sees as crucial to supporting its young core.

“We wanted a proven winner and a relationship builder,” Miller said. “Someone who could develop talent, innovate strategically, and connect across the growing international reach of the league. We found all of that in Jose.”

The Dallas Wings’ Search for Leadership

Miller began the press conference by thanking ownership, staff, and players before outlining the key criteria behind the Wings’ coaching search.

“At the end of the season, we conducted a thorough review of where we were and where we wanted to go,” Miller said. “We wanted an experienced head coach, a communicator, a developer of talent, and an innovator. And we wanted someone with an international outlook because of how global our game and roster have become.”

In Fernandez, the Wings found a coach who fit every category. Over his tenure at South Florida, he coached more than 800 games, achieved 14 consecutive 19-win seasons, and established one of the most stable mid-major programs in the country. As president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, he also earned deep respect from his peers for his work in growing the game.

“No coach in the States has recruited and coached international talent like Jose,” Miller said. “He’s developed about 30 players who now compete either internationally or in the WNBA. That global experience is a major advantage for us moving forward.”

Miller credited CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb, Bill Cameron, assistant GMs Travis Charles and Jasmine Thomas, and the organization’s business staff for their collaboration, calling the Wings “a true partnership between basketball and business operations.”

Jose Fernandez’s Vision: “This Won’t Be the Same Old Dallas Wings”

Fernandez began his remarks by expressing gratitude to both South Florida and the Wings organization for the opportunity, calling it the perfect fit for the next stage of his career.

“This was the franchise I wanted to work for,” he said. “This was the team I wanted to coach. And this was the GM I wanted to work for. We have an unbelievable front office, and I’m looking forward to this partnership.”

He thanked the players in attendance, emphasizing that his first priority would be building relationships. “It’s been strange not being in the gym,” he said. “I can’t wait to get to work.”

To close his introduction, Fernandez paraphrased a line from a former colleague that captured the spirit of his arrival: “This won’t be the same old Dallas Wings, my brother. Change is coming, and we’re gonna win.”

Building Around Paige Bueckers

Fernandez inherits a Wings team that finished 10–34 last season, the lowest mark in the league, but one that already has a franchise cornerstone in Paige Bueckers, who delivered one of the most impressive rookie seasons in WNBA history.

Over 36 games, Bueckers averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, leading all rookies in both total points (692) and assists (194). She became the franchise’s all-time rookie scoring leader, set Dallas records for points and assists by a first-year player, and joined elite company as just the second rookie in WNBA history with multiple 35-point games. Her 44-point performance set a league rookie single-game scoring record.

Bueckers was named WNBA Rookie of the Year and earned All-WNBA Second Team and All-Rookie Team honors, becoming the centerpiece of a roster that Miller and Fernandez see as the foundation for long-term success.

“Paige is special — one of the faces of the league,” Fernandez said. “I like her with the ball in her hands and without it. Geno [Auriemma] told me, ‘If there’s a shot you want her to make, she’ll make it. If there’s a play you run for her, she’ll execute it.’”

Fernandez said he plans to visit Storrs later this month to watch Bueckers and her former UConn program practice.

“Great players want to be coached and held accountable,” he said. “The things we’re going to do in the half court and open floor will suit her perfectly.”

Establishing a Foundation: Accountability, Pace, and Culture

While Bueckers headlines the roster, Fernandez’s broader message centered on culture and connection.

“The first priority is getting to know everyone on the roster,” he said. “You can practice hard and prepare well, but if the team isn’t connected, it doesn’t work. The staff and players need to respect one another and stay accountable.”

He summarized his coaching philosophy with three principles: Accountability, Trust, and Truth.

“Accountability every day and in everything we do,” Fernandez said. “Trust — trusting the coaching staff and each other. And truth — players will always know what I’m thinking and what their role is.”

Fernandez also described his on-court vision: a faster, more versatile, and decisive offense.

“We’re definitely going to play different,” he said. “Our playbook will be expanded. We’ll look to score early in transition and be very efficient in the half court. That’s how we’ll practice and prepare every day.”

Miller said those ideas align with the organization’s direction, especially with the Wings’ growing core of young players.

“Our goal doesn’t change,” he said. “We want to get back to the playoffs and compete for a championship. Jose and I share that belief completely.”

Staff Construction, International Influence, and Embracing Pressure

Fernandez confirmed that his first major task would be constructing a coaching staff with professional experience across WNBA, NBA, and EuroLeague backgrounds. He plans to meet with the team’s existing assistants before finalizing his selections.

“It’s only fair to talk to each and every one of them,” he said. “We’ll put together an elite staff that connects, develops players, and represents this organization the right way.”

He also emphasized the value of his international experience, noting that several of his former players at South Florida made the transition from overlooked prospects to professional standouts.

“We had seven or eight WNBA draft picks, and not one of them was a top-100 recruit,” Fernandez said. “That happened because of player development and putting them in the right positions.”

Asked about the expectations that come with the Dallas job, Fernandez smiled.

“A lot of people were scared about this job,” he said. “I wasn’t. Pressure is a privilege — it means something is expected of you. I thrive on pressure and chaos. You have to be calm under both.”

Connecting with Dallas and Its Community

Fernandez, a Miami native with Cuban heritage, said connecting with the city’s Latino community is deeply important to him.

“By me becoming the head coach of the Dallas Wings, I hope people can realize that it can be done,” he said. “Hopefully it creates more opportunities for Latinos and Hispanic Americans.”

He also expressed excitement about living in Dallas full-time with his wife, Tanya, and continuing their shared advocacy for animal rescue.

“We have eight rescue dogs,” he said. “We’re going to need a lot of land.”

Miller praised Fernandez’s alignment with the organization’s three pillars — winning championships, investing in the community, and generating revenue — and noted that the Wings have ranked among the league leaders in attendance over the last two seasons.

Identity, Balance, and the Road Ahead

When asked what kind of identity the Wings will have under his leadership, Fernandez answered with conviction.

“We’re going to play harder than anybody in this league,” he said. “We’re going to rim-run harder, our wings are going to sprint harder, we’re going to attack the rim, create second-chance opportunities, and stop the point of attack early. We’re going to be tough to play against.”

He and Miller also discussed the growing number of offseason leagues for WNBA players, including Unrivaled and overseas competition. Both stressed balance between development and rest. “Unrivaled demands elite conditioning and on-ball defense,” Fernandez said. “Overseas play builds skill and discipline. Both help players improve, but rest is equally important because we plan to have a long season.”

As the press conference concluded, Miller reflected on the decision to hire Fernandez — and why the organization believes he’s the right leader for the next phase of the Wings’ evolution.

“There’s a lot of scrutiny and pressure that comes with coaching this team,” Miller said. “That scared some people, but it didn’t scare Jose. In fact, it motivated him.”

Fernandez’s closing statement captured both his confidence and his commitment to the city.

“We’re going to bring a level of championship excellence in everything we do,” he said. “Change is coming — and we’re going to win.”

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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