University of South Florida Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly has announced a contract extension for women’s basketball head coach Jose Fernandez, who has led the Bulls to nine NCAA Tournament appearances (eight in the last 11 years). Fernandez, who enters his 24th season at the helm of the program in 2023-24, received an extension through the 2028-29 season.
“Jose (Fernandez) has developed a program that has become one of the most successful and consistent in our department’s history,” said Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly. “We are thrilled to have him leading our women’s basketball program through at least the 2028-29 season.”
“There are not many coaches who can say they have been at a university for the past 23 seasons,” said coach Fernandez. “I’m humbled and grateful to go into season number 24. I look back to 2000 when Paul Griffin hired me, USF was my dream job and will forever be. Thank you to Michael Kelly, Lee Butler, and our president Rhea Law for this contract through 2029. I look forward to continuing our success in the classroom, in the community, and on the basketball floor as one of the best programs in the country.”
JOSE FERNANDEZ CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- 2023-24 WBCA Vice President / President-Elect
- Two-time American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2018, 2021)
- Nine NCAA Tournament appearances (eight in the past 11 seasons)
- Recruited and coached over 36 all-conference players, two Associated Press honorable mention All-Americans, four members of the USF Athletics Hall of Fame, two AAC Players of the Year, three AAC Freshmen of the Year, an AAC Newcomer of the year, and seven WNBA draft picks
- USF’s 2022-23 squad captured the AAC regular-season title
- USF’s 2020-21 team won the AAC regular-season title and the conference tournament championship
- USF’s 2008-09 team won the WNIT Championship, defeating the home-standing Kansas Jayhawks before a record crowd of 16,113
- Has 19 wins against top 25-ranked teams, including No. 6 Mississippi State in 2020, No. 7 Stanford (the defending national champion) in 2021, and No. 22 Texas and No. 17 Arkansas in 2022
- Recorded his 400th career victory during the 2021-22 season
- Recruited and coached players from over 18 different countries
- Inducted into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay’s Hall of Fame on June 8, 2022
South Florida posted a 27-7 overall record last season and held a 15-1 mark in conference action. The 2022-23 campaign was concluded on a high note, as the program advanced to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament, noting its ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and marking its eighth trip to the Big Dance in the last 11 years. USF has advanced to the postseason 18 times in the club’s history.
Heading into the upcoming season, USF was picked to finish first for the fourth straight year in this year’s rendition of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) preseason coaches poll, and senior guard Sammie Puisis was named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference First Team.
The Bulls will kick off the 2023-24 campaign with four of the first five matchups at home versus UT Arlington (Monday, Nov. 6), Stetson (Friday, Nov. 10), Grambling State (Monday, Nov. 13), and North Florida (Sunday, Nov. 19) before heading to Alabama (Thursday, Nov. 16).
USF will then head to the U.S. Virgin Islands to take part in its fourth Paradise Jam appearance. Playing in the Reef Tournament, USF will play High Point (Thursday, Nov. 23), Arizona State (Friday, Nov. 24), and Texas (Saturday, Nov. 25).
