Jose Fernandez said it wasn't just strange to be watching on TV last Monday when the USF women's basketball team its season, it was "surreal." Then again, after coaching the Bulls for 25 years, how could it not be?
"That was difficult to watch here at home, because those, those are the the staff that I worked with and the players that I recruited and coached. So it was definitely surreal not being not being on the sidelines," he said.
But, he said, the chance to be the head coach of the Dallas Wings in the WNBA was too great of an opportunity to pass up -- even if it did occur shortly before USF was tipping off a new season. In a chat Sunday with Green, Gold, and Bold, he elaborated on how the deal came about and the whirlwind transition from being a college head coach to the WNBA.
Fernandez is well-known and respected in the world of women's basketball. After inheriting a dumpster fire at South Florida in 2000, he compiled a 485-317 record, including 23-11 last season when the Bulls won the American Conference tournament.
He had 10 NCAA Tournament bids, and also coached with USA Basketball. He was also the president of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
The Wings initially gauged his interest last December, just as the Bulls' season was heating up. The WNBA season runs from May into September, while the colleges go from November into March.
"Everything's about timing, and whenever you leave for a professional job, especially the WNBA, it's going to either be during the season or before the season. So timing is never gonna be perfect, but I had to make a decision. After being here for 25 years and going to an organization and an opportunity like the Dallas Wings, it was the right time for me, personally and professionally," he said.
The Wings fired head coach Chris Koclanes on September 30 after finishing 10-34 in his only season on the job, Fernandez was busy preparing the Bulls for their season when that happened, but Dallas reached out to him again.
"Things happened pretty quickly after that," he said.
He told CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins what was going on, and he kept his associate head coach, Michele Woods-Baxter in the loop as well. She was immediately elevated to the interim head coach when Fernandez sealed the deal to go to Dallas.
But first, he had to tell his players what was happening.
"That was very difficult. One of the most difficult things that I've ever had to do, personally and professionally," he said.
"When you walk in that room and tell your players and staff that after 11 team workouts and 22 practices that you're no longer going to be their coach, it was just hard. Of course, there were a lot of emotions, and I'm glad that the players and staff understood why I was doing this. It just the chance to try your hand at the pro ranks."
Despite their record last season, the Wings have a generational talent to build around in guard Paige Bueckers. Fernandez saw her first-hand last season when the Bulls played at UConn, as well as the Women's Final Four last spring in Tampa. She led the Huskies to the national title.
He also had a chance to talk with his good friend Geno Auriemma, the legendary UConn head coach, bout Bueckers.
"I have talked to him and I'm going to do that more," Fernandez said. "I'm going to watch Geno practice next week and then see them play Ohio State."
He was formally introduced as the Wings new coach last week in Dallas.
"I was really excited. You know, I haven't had a, I haven't had a press conference like that for a long time," he said. "The question and answer spontaneity and getting to know the Dallas media and national media, and telling them my vision for for the team, about our style of play and everything like that was fun."
He introduced Dallas to the kind of swagger he brings to the sidelines.
"A lot of people were scared of this job," he told the media. "I wasn't scared."
While Fernandez will stay in Dallas during the season, he plans to keep his house in Tampa. And for the time being, he will continue to watch USF games on TV instead of taking the short ride to the Yuengling Center.
"Yeah, it's only fair. There's got to be a degree of separation, right? Michele's the head coach. This is her team. You know, I will be at some of the games for scouting purposes," he said. "The ability to see Duke, the ability to see South Carolina, the ability to see Connecticut at home without me traveling, is very nice, I plan on attending those games."
After 25 years with theh Bulls, Fernandez will be rookie coach again next season. That might be a little weird, but it's still just basketball.
"I had a great situation in South Florida. I still had four years left on my contract, the best team in the league," he said. "But you know, college is professional sports now with shared revenue, and NIL so from doing that at the collegiate level, why not coach the best players in the world?"
Sudden thought: What would be the chances of the Dallas Wings playing an exhibition game sometime at the Yuegling Center?
He laughed a little bit at that question.
"Well, haven't had time to look into things like that," he said, "but it's great idea. I'll always be a Bull."