Wings could be repeating 2025 mistake with coaching hire

Paige Bueckers is about the only sure thing the Dallas Wings have.

On Thursday, the organization announced it had hired South Florida women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez as the 11th full-time head coach in franchise history. He replaces Chris Koclanes, who, like Fernandez, had no prior WNBA head coaching experience before being hired by the Wings.

Dallas Wings taking gamble with coaching hire

Fernandez, who turns 54 on Nov. 18, proved himself in the college ranks, spending the past 25 years at South Florida. He took over a program that had never finished more than one game above .500 or reached the NCAA Tournament and turned it into a perennial tourney contender. From 2013-25, South Florida made nine out of 12 NCAA Tournaments, and it was 60-41 (.594) in three non-tournament seasons.

Despite his success in college, it's no guarantee that will translate to the pros. For a team with one of the league's most promising young players in Bueckers, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, the hiring Fernandez is a risk. Dallas, which has the highest odds to once again land the No. 1 overall pick, could have a pair of young cornerstones next season along with a head coach making his WNBA debut.

The Wings may have been better off more aggressively pursuing former New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello before the expansion Toronto Tempo nabbed her on Wednesday. Among available options, former Seattle Storm head coach Noelle Quinn would have been a safer bet. In five seasons under Quinn (2021-25), the Storm went 97-89 with four playoff appearances.

Fernandez may become a home-run hire and make the Wings look like geniuses, but there's no way of knowing if he'll be able to adapt after so many years coaching in college. Until Dallas finds out, Bueckers is flying solo.