The Brooklyn Nets have officially hired Jordi Fernandez as their 24th head coach.
The Brooklyn Nets will introduce their new head coach Wednesday morning at a press conference, officially ending their six-week search that began shortly after Jacque Vaughn was dismissed on February 29. Fernandez becomes the 24th head coach in Nets history, the fourth under GM Sean Marks. Terms of Fernandez contract were not disclosed.
The press conference will be televised on the YES Network and YES App, starting at 11:00 a.m. ET. Fernandez comes to Brooklyn from the Sacramento Kings where he was associate head coach under Mike Brown.
In a statement released by the Nets, Fernandez thanked co-owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai and GM Sean Marks for the opportunity.
“I am truly grateful to lead the Nets as head coach and cannot thank Joe, Clara and Sean enough for this exciting and humbling opportunity,” said Fernández. “My family and I are thrilled to join such an incredible organization and become part of the vibrant Brooklyn community.
“I am eager to get to work with this talented group of players and collectively drive our team forward. Together, we will be fully committed to building something special for Nets fans and the borough to be proud of for years to come.”
Joe Tsai and Marks described both the process that led up to Fernandez’s hiring and why they believed he was the best choice. Marks specifically noted the 41-year-old’s management strengths — “the ability “to implement strong processes and creative systems” and “to build genuine relationships” — as well as his X’s and O’s skills and broad experience.
“We’re thrilled to announce Jordi Fernández as Brooklyn’s new head coach,” said Marks. “As we progressed through an extensive search over the past six weeks, it became increasingly clear that Jordi is the best coach to lead our team forward.
“Jordi brings a diverse set of experiences and basketball knowledge gained over the course of a coaching career that has taken him around the world. Each step of the way, Jordi has consistently demonstrated the ability to implement strong processes and creative systems designed to optimize each team’s specific roster. He’s proven the ability to build genuine relationships and garner the respect of players of all levels, and we’re confident that our players will benefit greatly from his expertise. We look forward to Jordi, Kelsey and their children joining the Nets family and calling Brooklyn home.”
Joe Tsai also emphasized Fernandez’s “structure, process and habits” in welcoming Fernandez.
“We are excited to welcome Jordi Fernández and his family to the Nets big family. Jordi’s character as a leader and his emphasis on structure, process and habits will instill a Nets identity that our fans will want to root for,” said Nets Governor Joe Tsai. “We look forward to working with Jordi to build a sustainable winning culture in Brooklyn.”
Beyond citing Fernandez’s extensive NBA experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings as well as the G League, the Nets statement also noted Fernandez’s international experience.
Fernández has held a number of other coaching roles on the global stage, including serving as the lead assistant for the Nigerian National Team at the 2020 Olympics and the Spanish National Team at both EuroBasket 2017 and the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championships in Prague. He has also spent time coaching for Club Basquet L’Hospitalet in Spain and as a player development coach with Impact Basketball in Las Vegas.
Fernandez becomes the first Spanish-born coach in the NBA. He also fills out an international lineup at the top of the Nets hierarchy. Joe Tsai, a native of Taiwan, is a Canadian citizen. Sean Marks, now a U.S. citizen, was born in New Zealand and Sam Zussman, CEO of BSE Global, the Nets parent company, is an Israeli. Clara Wu Tsai, Vice Chairman, BSE Global, and Nets co-owner, is a U.S. citizen who was born in Kansas.
- Brooklyn Nets Name Jordi Fernández Head Coach – Brooklyn Nets