USF’s Jose Fernandez wins gold in international basketball championship

It may be a few weeks until the Olympics, but a familiar face in USF Athletics is already taking home the gold.

Related: USF’s Abdul Rasheed Saminu qualifies for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics

On Sunday, USF women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez led the women’s USA Basketball U18 team to gold in the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, an international basketball championship held for those under-18 every four years for the Americas zone title. 

The final game of the competition was held in the Coliseo Bicentenario in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Related: USF’s Jose Fernandez named assistant coach for USA women’s basketball

The tournament’s champions led a flawless record in this campaign, winning all six of their games against Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Dominican Republic (D.R.), Argentina and finally Canada, against whom they won 80-69. 

Their biggest victory came against the D.R. with the U.S. triumphing 125-27, a margin of 98 points.

This tournament marked Fernandez’s coaching debut with USA Basketball. The two-time American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year served as one of two assistant coaches to head coach Teri Moren from Indiana University.

Fernandez took the role earlier this year in February. The competition took place during the offseason, allowing him to remain head coach of the USF women’s basketball team at the same time.

Related: USF women’s basketball rounds out roster with seven offseason additions

“It first starts with an opportunity to work with incredible people like Teri and Niele,” said Fernandez. “You spend so much time trying to achieve a gold medal and it’s been a wonderful experience. Being able to work with this elite group of players and coaches, and they have been a tremendous group to coach. This is something that I’m going to remember forever.”

The coaching trio have now led the women’s USA Basketball U18’s to their 11th consecutive gold medal, tallying to a total of 12. 

Fernandez, who has served the Bulls as head coach for 24 years, now adds this successful campaign to his list of career achievements, which includes nine NCAA tournament appearances and 19 wins against top-25 teams. 

Fernandez extended his contract with USF last year in October, remaining a Bull until at least the 2028-29 season.