WNBA’s Newest Coach Slams NCAA Transfer Portal Rules as “Flawed”

The Dallas Wings have hired Jose Fernandez as their new head coach. He joins the WNBA after 25 years leading the University of South Florida women’s basketball program. Fernandez left college sports at a time of major upheaval.

His move follows a trend of veteran coaches stepping away. He now has a platform to critique the system he just left. Fernandez recently shared strong opinions on the state of college athletics.

Fernandez Calls for Portal Window Reform to Protect Tournament

Fernandez spoke on The Athletic‘s “No Offseason” podcast. He argued the current transfer portal timeline hurts the game. The open period creates distractions during the crucial NCAA Tournament.

Coaches and officials had previously agreed on a 15-day window. They recommended it start after the tournament’s first weekend. This would preserve focus on the postseason spectacle.

According to Reuters, the current system forces some athletes to wait over a month. Their seasons may end in February. They must then wait to enter the portal until after the Final Four.

Former College Coach Labels NCAA’s NET Ranking System “Manipulatable”

Fernandez also targeted the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET). He called its quadrant system deeply flawed. He compared it to the older RPI system it replaced.

The NET considers margin of victory and offensive efficiency. Fernandez stated this allows teams to manipulate their rankings. Beating weak opponents by large margins can artificially boost a team’s score.

This leads to contentious debates during March Madness selections. Fernandez admitted he scheduled games at South Florida to “manipulate” his NET. His goal was to improve his team’s strength of schedule metric.

The hiring of Jose Fernandez gives the WNBA a vocal critic of modern NCAA structures. His firsthand experience underscores the urgent need for reform in college sports. His move highlights a growing exodus of seasoned coaches frustrated by the current system.

Thought you’d like to know

Who is Jose Fernandez?

Jose Fernandez is the new head coach of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. He spent the previous 25 years as head coach at the University of South Florida.

What is the NCAA transfer portal?

The transfer portal is an official database for college athletes to enter their name if they wish to switch schools. It grants other programs permission to contact them.

What did Fernandez say about the portal?

He argued the portal should only be open for 15 days starting after the NCAA Tournament’s first weekend. This would minimize distractions during the championship event.

What is the NET system?

The NET is the NCAA’s primary tool for evaluating teams and selecting tournament participants. It replaced the RPI ranking system, using game results and efficiency metrics.

Why does Fernandez criticize the NET?

He believes it can be easily manipulated. Running up the score against weak teams can improve a team’s offensive efficiency metrics and overall ranking unfairly.

Will Fernandez still be involved with college sports?

Yes. Fernandez remains the President of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. He will still help shape policy recommendations for NCAA women’s basketball.