Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez echoes Geno Auriemma’s Electric Take About Paige Bueckers While Dubbing ROTY as 'Face of the League'

Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez doubled down on Geno Auriemma's take on Paige Bueckers during the Wings' introductory press conference on Thursday. One of the reporters asked the new coach for his take on the Rookie of the Year.

Fernandez kept his composure during his response, and proclaimed Bueckers as a face of the league.

"Paige is special, Rookie of the Year, and one of the faces of the league," He said. "I like her with a ball in her hand and with the ball not in her hands."

"Everybody knows, it's not a secret that Geno [Auriemma] and I have known each other for a very long time. He is one of the most respected coaches in the entire country and his success speaks for himself, but he was very plain and simple when he talked to me about Paige... great players want to be coached. She wants to be coached and held accountable."

Later, Fernandez gave the fans a sneak peek at his tactical plans for the Dallas team. He said that his plans for the team in the half-court and the open floor would suit Bueckers.

He said that Geno Auriemma told him that Bueckers was a reliable player to take any shot or run any play he would draw up. Lastly, the new Dallas Wings' manager emphasized improving the overall roster rather than just focusing on Bueckers.

Jose Fernandez reveals he was not scared to take the Dallas Wings coaching job

Jose Fernandez is the talk of the town in Dallas, as the longtime NCAA coach has decided to try his luck in a league. During the Dallas Wings' introductory conference, a reporter asked the former South Florida coach to reveal his approach for building a coaching staff heading into his first season in the league.

Fernandez said that professional experience would play a big role in his coaching staff. Later, he revealed that many candidates were scared to take on this job; however, he took it on as a challenge.

"A lot of people were scared about this job. I wasn't scared," He said. "There is a lot of pressure that comes with this job, but pressure is a privilege. I mean, some things are expected from you. I thrive on pressure, I thrive on chaos, and our players will see that." (Timestamp: 34:00)

The Dallas Wings had a disappointing run last season. Despite Paige Buckers winning the ROTY award, Dallas failed to make it to the playoffs, as they ended their season in 13th place in the standings with a 10-34 record. Fernandez is expected to make big changes to the squad upon his arrival, and pull them out of mediocrity.

Edited by Avi Shravan