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USF and head coach Jose Fernandez have agreed to a three-year contract extension, which will last through the 2021 season. Here's some of the release from the today's announcement:
University of South Florida Director of Athletics Mark Harlan today announced a contract extension for Head Women’s Basketball Coach Jose Fernandez that will keep him leading the Bulls’ program through 2021.
The University added three years to Fernandez’s current contract extending it to a six-year deal. Fernandez recently completed his 15th season leading the program by taking the Bulls to their 11th post-season appearance under his direction and second NCAA Tournament in three years.
"Jose has built an incredibly strong foundation for our women’s basketball program over the last 15 seasons and has achieved unprecedented success in women’s basketball at this University," Harlan said. "We just completed one of the most outstanding and exciting seasons in our program’s history, but we see even greater things on the horizon for our women’s basketball program and are thrilled Jose will continue to lead our program into the foreseeable future."
Fernandez led the Bulls to their first-ever national ranking and program-record tying 27 wins in 2014-15 as USF reached its second NCAA Tournament in the last three seasons and made its 11th postseason appearance in the last 12. USF finished the year ranked No. 25 in the AP poll, posted its sixth 20-win season under Fernandez (the third consecutive) and hosted NCAA Tournament first and second round games in front of an electric Sun Dome crowd for the first time in program history.
"First and foremost, I want to thank President Genshaft. We’ve been together for 15 years and she’s provided unbelievable leadership," Fernandez said. "I appreciate the support Mark Harlan has shown for our women’s basketball program. He has displayed a great commitment to and belief in our staff and our program, and I’m very thankful for his support. I’ve taken a lot of pride in building this program and there’s so much more to do. I think this will allow us to continue along the path we’re on."
Fernandez just completed his 15th season with the Bulls. In his 15 years with the program, USF has reached the postseason 11 times. He was also rumored to be a serious candidate for the vacancy at Kansas.