TAMPA, Fla. – The USF women’s basketball team opens its season on November 3 against FIU. Jose Fernandez, the face of the program for 25 years and a pillar within women’s hoops, will not lead the Bulls after accepting the head coaching position with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings.
“Over the last 25 years, Jose has been an exceptional leader, mentor and advocate for the University of South Florida,” said CEO of athletics, Rob Higgins, in a statement, adding that Fernandez’s “impact will be profound.”
Higgins noted that Michele Woods-Baxter will take over the coaching duties on an interim basis. Woods-Baxter served as an assistant under Fernandez for the past 17 seasons.
Fernandez served as an assistant for less than a year at USF before he was named head coach in November 2000. He led the Bulls 10 NCAA tournament appearances and produced nine WNBA draft picks.
READ: Numbers Game: USF Bulls Are Piling Up Some Impressive Stats
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
