It’s a dog-eat-dog world for USF Coach Fernandez and his wife

LUTZ, Fla. — When you go to the home of University of South Florida women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez and his wife Tonya, there’s going to be treats, lots of tail wagging, and lots of sloppy kisses.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and these pups rule the house.

“This is normal,” Tonya Fernandez said. “This is every day.”

“Welcome to our crazy,” Jose Fernandez said.

You can blame Tonya Fernandez for the controlled chaos. Ever since she was a little girl, she says strays just had a way of finding her. And she knew how to make them feel at home — and give them a home — just like they’ve done with these rescue dogs.

“Just to be able to take a dog that was unwanted, maybe neglected, and to give them patience and love and turn that around where they trust and love you to pieces,” she said. “There’s nothing like that.”

It started with Buster, the couple’s first dog. The canine who set the tone for this family has a prominent spot in the house when you first walk in.

“Buster’s ashes are in the painting,” Jose Fernandez said.

Most Bulls fans know Jose Fernandez for the winning women’s basketball program he’s built at the University of South Florida. They are NCAA Tournament regulars and are considered one of the top programs in college basketball.

He’s using his high profile to spread the message about dog rescue, and at the Bulls’ game against Gardner-Webb Sunday, Fernandez helped shine a spotlight on the importance and value of rescuing dogs.

Jose and Tonya Fernandez can tell you firsthand how their dogs have enhanced their lives — the couple may have technically rescued the dogs, but in so many ways, they say the dogs have really rescued them.

“They just bring so much joy to our lives and we laugh all day long,” said Tonya Fernandez.