Women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez remembers his first time walking through the USF Athletics offices, which were then housed in the basement of the Sun Dome. 

After all, he was hired four years before the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center was even built. 

This season, Fernandez will mark his 25th year under the helm as the Bulls coach – a team that has flourished into one of the most successful athletic programs at USF. 

Since he was hired in 2000, USF has picked up nine NCAA tournament bids and three conference championships. The Bulls were picked first in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll for the fifth-straight year. 

The 52-year old head coach may be hitting the quarter-century mark with the Bulls, but his love for the program hasn’t seemed to diminish a bit. 

He opted to stay with USF in March after engaging in talks with Miami for its head coaching vacancy. 

“It’s gone by quickly, but this is a special place,” Fernandez said at a Tuesday press conference. “USF and the Tampa Bay community has just been amazing for my family and I.” 

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It’s a love that has been passed down through generations. His two daughters – Cindy and Alex – both graduated from USF.

“I think you know how invested my wife, Tanya, and I are into this university and this community,” he said. 

Fernandez – a Miami native – graduated from FIU in 1994, coaching at smaller schools in the area before landing at USF. 

Last October, Fernandez inked an extension that will keep him at USF until 2029. His annual salary will top out around $800,000, excluding bonuses. 

Under a rapidly-changing college sports landscape, Fernandez said that his role as a leader has shifted over the years as he deals with things like name, image and likeness and social media.

For Fernandez, the coaching skills were always there. The challenging part was becoming a leader off the court. 

“I tell everyone, 20% of my job is on the floor,” he said. “Now, you have to be the general manager of your entire organization… I learned it the hard way.” 

Related: Jose Fernandez to stay with USF after approach from Miami

Fernandez said he’s learned to become “more grounded” and developed better relationships with players. 

“I think the most important thing is that you’re very truthful with your staff and your players,” he said. “If there’s a level of accountability, and there’s truth, you’re going to do very, very well.” 

Women’s basketball tips off its season against Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Yuengling Center.