Geno Auriemma has delivered his verdict on the Dallas Wings’ hiring of Jose Fernandez as their new head coach — and it is great news for Paige Bueckers, Auriemma’s former star pupil at the University of Connecticut.<\/p>\n
The Wings last week zeroed in on Fernandez, the longtime coach at the University of South Florida, as their choice to replace Chris Koclanes — who was fired last month after one difficult season on the Dallas bench. Fernandez coached the USF Bulls between 2000 and 2025, guiding the mid-major program to consistent success<\/a> while earning the respect of his fellow coaches.<\/p>\n Auriemma, the winningest coach in college basketball history, is among those praising the Wings for their choice of head coach.<\/p>\n Auriemma lauds Wings’ choice to hire Fernandez<\/p>\n The Wings posted a graphic to X that revealed Auriemma’s thoughts on Fernandez replacing Koclanes as Bueckers’ head coach in Dallas. And knowing Bueckers as he does, Auriemma believes this hire is a home run by Wings general manager Curt Miller.<\/p>\n “I think Jose Fernandez is a great hire by the Dallas Wings,” Auriemma said. “I’ve always had the utmost respect for Jose as a teacher and an innovator. He’s a guy who thinks outside the box, whether that’s recruiting internationally or playing a style of basketball that’s unique.”<\/p>\n From one basketball great to another \ud83e\udd1d pic.twitter.com\/IEOjdWbfBN<\/a><\/p>\n