Fernandez is one of 15 coaches nationwide – and one of just two non-Power 5 head coaches – to make the late-season list.
ATLANTA (Feb. 17, 2021) – University of South Florida head women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez has been named to the 2021 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List, announced Wednesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Fernandez is one of 15 head coaches recognized for the award that is presented annually to the most outstanding men’s and women’s college basketball coach who achieves tremendous on-court success. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on March 3. He is also one of just two non-Power 5 head coaches to make the list.
Fernandez, in his 21st season as head coach at USF, has guided the Bulls to an 11-1 overall record and 9-0 mark in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) this season while navigating challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic that included a 31-day pause in program activities for his team. Before the extended layoff, USF took then No. 4-ranked Baylor to the brink of defeat before falling to the Lady Bears, 67-62; and just one game later defeated No. 6 Mississippi State, 67-63 in overtime.
The Bulls are currently in the midst of a program-record 10-game winning streak and have won nine consecutive AAC games, also a program best. USF has also achieved the highest ranking in program history, checking in at No. 12 in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 poll.
For his career, Fernandez boasts a 384-283 record in 21 seasons at the helm of the USF program, which includes nine 20-win seasons. The Bulls have made 15 trips to the postseason, including six NCAA Tournament appearances and winning the 2009 WNIT championship.
2021 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List
Geno Auriemma, UConn
Adia Barnes, Arizona
Kim Barnes Arico, Michigan
Gary Blair, Texas A&M
Mike Carey, WVU
Cori Close, UCLA
Jose Fernandez, USF
Brenda Frese, Maryland
Kellie Harper, Tennessee
Aaron Johnston, South Dakota State
Kevin McGuff, Ohio State
Wes Moore, North Carolina State
Dawn Staley, South Carolina
Tara VanDerveer, Stanford
Jeff Walz, Louisville
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USF notched its ninth consecutive 19-win season and was poised for its ninth straight postseason appearance in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the end of the college basketball season. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Elena Tsineke and Elisa Pinzan. Tsineke was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, in addition to The American All-Freshman Team and Third Team All-Conference; while Pinzan was named a Third Team All-Conference selection.
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 20 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to nine 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 350 games.
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