Talk about an immediate turnaround.

Jorge Fernandez – who has served as an assistant coach at a Power Five university and has also been a head coach on a high school squad that won the first state championship in program history – inherited a 3-14 club when he was hired as MDC’s men’s basketball head coach in August of 2021.

Facing a complete rebuild, Fernandez did remarkable work in 2021-2022, improving the Sharks by seven wins as compared to their previous season.

Along the way last season, Fernandez led the Sharks to an upset road win over the nation’s No. 24^th-ranked team, Eastern Florida State College. MDC won that game, on Dec. 4, 2021, prevailing 85-80 in double overtime.

The Sharks were also vastly improved on defense last season, allowing just 71 points per game. The previous season, before Fernandez arrived on campus, MDC allowed 89 points per game.

Fernandez, the 12th head coach in MDC history, has more than 25 years of coaching experience at the high school and college levels. 

One of the highlights of Fernandez’s career came in 2018, when he led Doral Academy to the Class 7A state championship, beating Fort Walton Beach’s Choctawhatchee, 43-38.

Fernandez was also a physical education teacher at Doral, which achieved a number of “firsts” under their coach’s leadership. That includes the initial district, regional and state titles in Doral boys’ basketball history. 

In recognition of his great work, Fernandez was named the 2017-2018 Florida Coach of the Year for 7A.

From 2014 until the spring of 2021, Fernandez coached Doral.

Prior to that, during the 2011-2012 season, Fernandez served as an assistant coach at Marshall University. He helped Marshall win 21 games that season, earning an NIT postseason tournament bid. 

That same year, Marshall also went to its first C-USA Championship Game in school history.

Fernandez was named one of the nation’s top-60 assistant coaches by HoopScoop.com. 

Prior to that, from 2004 to 2011, Fernandez served as recruiting coordinator and associate head coach at the University of Miami.

As part of his duties at Miami, he recruited prospective student-athletes nationwide, scouted opponents and spoke at numerous engagements. 

Fernandez helped Miami sign two national, top-20 recruiting classes. He was named one of the ACC’s top-five assistant coaches. Rivals.com named him one of the nation’s top-25 recruiters.

In 2007-2008, Fernandez helped Miami earn a 23-11 record. At the time, those 23 wins were tied for second-most in program history.

Prior to Miami, Fernandez served as an assistant basketball coach/recruiting coordinator at UCF (1995-2002) and at the University of South Alabama (2002-2004).

Fernandez started his coaching career as a Miami graduate assistant from 1989 to 1991.

Fernandez, born in New York City and raised in Miami since age three, is married to Sol Maritza Fernandez, and they have two daughters, Alexis and Olivia.

Head Coaching Timeline:

2020-2022: 10-17 record, including an upset win over the 24^th-ranked team in the nation

2020-2021: 14-7 record; district runner-up; regional semifinalists; one player made All-Dade first team (Justin Johnson); two players made third-team All-Dade (Gabriel Hernandez and Kameron Johnson).

2019-2020: 17-8 record; one player made first-team All-Dade (Devin Carter).

2018-2019: 31-1 record; A-Rod Basketball Classic champions; district champions; regional finalist; coached Miami-Dade County 2019 Class 7A Player of the Year (Devin Carter); one player made first-team All-Dade and third-team Class 7A All-State (Jonathan Nunez).

2017-2018: 32-2 record; district, regional and Class 7A state champions; Miami-Dade County 9A-7A Coach of the Year; Florida Dairy Farmers 2018 Class 7A Boys' Basketball Coach of the Year; coached the Miami-Dade County 2018 Class 7A Player of the Year and Florida Dairy Farmers 2018 Class 7A Boys' Basketball Player of the Year (Miguel Ayesa); one player made second-team All-Dade (Jonathan Nunez).

2016-2017: 26-5 record; district champions; regional semifinalist; one player made first-team All- Dade (Yosnier Cobas).

2015-2016: 19-8 record.

2014-2015: 19-9 record; district runner-up; regional quarterfinalist.

Assistant Coaching Timeline:

2011-2012: Marshall University

2004-2011: University of Miami (Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator)

2002-2004: South Alabama

1995-2002: UCF

1989-1991: Miami (Graduate Assistant)