Report: Wings nearing deal to hire longtime USF coach Fernandez

The Dallas Wings are targeting South Florida's Jose Fernandez to be the WNBA franchise's next head coach, sources told Ben Pickman of The Athletic.

Fernandez, 53, has been in charge of the Bulls' women's basketball program since 2000-01, managing a cumulative 485-317 record over 25 seasons. He's taken South Florida to 10 NCAA Tournaments, including a run of four straight appearances from 2015-18. Fernandez also helped the school capture two AAC Tournament titles in the last five seasons, including last year's campaign, which ended with a first-round loss to Tennessee during March Madness.

South Florida's CEO of athletics Rob Higgins confirmed Thursday that Fernandez was leaving the school "to pursue an opportunity to coach at the next level in the WNBA" but did not specify a team. Dallas has yet to come to an official agreement with Fernandez, reports Pickman, citing a source.

The Wings are seeking a new face behind the bench to replace Chris Koclanes, whom they fired in September after the team went 10-34 in his debut season. Koclanes also made the jump to the WNBA from women's college basketball, having been an assistant on Lindsay Gottlieb's coaching staff at USC, but didn't have previous head coaching experience. He did, however, have prior stints in the WNBA as a defensive coordinator for the Connecticut Sun and Los Angeles Sparks.