TAMPA, Fla. – Twenty-five years is a long time to be collecting paychecks from the same place. Rare is it today that anyone is able to maintain the same employment address for as long, especially with doors closing, downsizing and mergers. At the university level, though, growth is apparent at many institutions with athletics often leading the way. Indeed, Jose Fernandez has grown with the University of South Florida.
“It’s gone by quickly,” he said of a quarter-century being the face of a very successful women’s basketball program. “This is a special place. USF and the Tampa Bay community have just been amazing for my family and I.”
READ: USF Men’s Basketball To Be Showcased In 14 Nationally Televised Games
The Miami native was not even 30 when he took over the program, a time when the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center did not exist and the football program was in its fourth season. That was November 2000. Current USF athletic director Michael Kelly would soon serve as associate athletic director for external affairs before leaving to continue building his career, and ultimately return to lead the department.
“It seems like just yesterday a young Michael Kelly was down the hallway and I was 28 years old,” said Fernandez, who has led the Bulls to nine NCAA tournament appearances. “Now, I work for him. It has gone by fast.”
Fernandez shared several memories of how things were at USF, including football offices in trailers.
“You remember that stuff and where we were and where we are at now,” he said. “It is truly amazing the growth and the investment the university has made, and athletics has made.”
READ: USF Bulls’ Emotional Week In Orlando Ends In Loss To Memphis
Fernandez feels very good about his team as time ticks toward the November 4 opener against Bethune-Cookman at the Yuengling Center. He likes the depth, feels good about the ladies that made their way to Tampa through the transfer portal and, with 2022-23 second-team All-American Conference guard Sammie Puisis back from a knee injury, the health of the squad.
“I am really excited,” he said. “Knock on wood, everybody is healthy right now.”
Much has changed, yet much has remained the same. All these years Fernandez has never wavered in making his program a top-shelf draw. No reason to think season No. 25 will be any different.
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