Colorado University Athletics
Hernandez Selected to 2026 WBCA Thirty Under 30 List
March 24, 2026 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Colorado women's basketball assistant coach Jordynn "Jojo" Hernandez was named one of the honorees for the 2026 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 presented by Morgan Stanley, the organization announced Tuesday, Mar. 24.
Now in its 11th year, the WBCA Thirty Under 30 program recognizes 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches aged 30 and under from all levels of the game. These young coaches have distinguished themselves through community service, mentorship, professional excellence and meaningful impact within the women's basketball profession. Honorees are selected based on their contributions to student-athlete development, leadership within their programs, professional involvement and commitment to advancing the game.
"I'm honored to be named to the 30 Under 30 and give all glory to God for this opportunity and for ordering my steps," assistant coach Jojo Hernandez said. "I'm beyond grateful to JR [Payne], this program and our athletes who bring so much joy to what we do. I'm also incredibly thankful for my family, mentors, and those who have poured into me and supported me along the way. This recognition is a reminder that age doesn't define purpose. When God calls you, He qualifies you, opens doors, and places you exactly where you're meant to be."
In her first season with Colorado, Hernandez has helped guide one of the program's most notable year-to-year improvements in recent seasons. After finishing ninth in conference play a year ago, CU moved into sixth this season while integrating 10 new players through the transfer portal and establishing one of the conference's most competitive defensive units.
The Buffaloes earned four wins over ranked opponents this season, defeating No. 19 Iowa State (68-62, Jan. 14), No. 14 TCU (80-79, Feb. 8), No. 20 Texas Tech (75-68, Feb. 21) and No. 20 Baylor (62-53, Mar. 6), while posting a 14-3 record at home. Colorado also made its way to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, falling by just one point to No. 15 West Virginia (Mar. 7).
That success translated into conference recognition across the roster. Anaëlle Dutat, Jade Masogayo, Zyanna Walker and Desiree Wooten each earned Big 12 Starting Five Top Performer honors during the season, while Logyn Greer was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. Masogayo also earned Preseason All-Big 12 and All-Big 12 Second Team honors. Walker and Wooten each received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition, with Walker adding selection to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
Beyond game preparation and player development, Hernandez's influence is rooted in mentorship, accountability and relationship-building. She has become a trusted voice for Colorado student-athletes, emphasizing confidence, discipline and personal growth while helping players navigate challenges on and off the court. Her ability to pair high expectations with genuine support has helped foster a culture of resilience and belief within the program. She consistently invests in individual relationships, celebrating progress and encouraging growth in ways that resonate across the roster.
"Jojo is one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country—authentic, caring, and relentlessly hardworking," head coach JR Payne stated. "She has built meaningful relationships that make her both respected by her peers and truly valued by her student-athletes."
Widely respected for her preparation, composure and positive leadership, Hernandez contributes across athlete development, recruiting, scouting and day-to-day program operations, bringing a solutions-oriented mindset that has made an immediate impact.
Before arriving in Boulder, Hernandez spent two seasons at Stephen F. Austin State University, serving as an assistant coach from 2023-25 and helping lead the Ladyjacks to a 51-21 record, back-to-back conference tournament championship appearances, and a Southland Conference Tournament title that resulted in the program's first NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament appearance since 2022.
Prior to that, she was on staff at UT Arlington from 2021-23, beginning as a graduate assistant before being promoted to Director of Player Development. During her time there, UT Arlington posted a 20-8 record, won the Sun Belt Tournament, and advanced to the 2022 NCAA Tournament. A native of McKinney, Hernandez began her collegiate playing career at Collin College before transferring to UT Arlington. After sitting out the 2019-20 season due to a knee injury, she returned in 2020-21 and averaged 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 steals in 13 games.
Her WBCA Thirty Under 30 selection adds to previous national recognition through the WBCA's "So You Want to Be a Coach" program, where she was selected in 2021 as the only Sun Belt Conference student-athlete chosen and one of just 18 Division I participants nationwide.
2026 WBCA Thirty Under 30 honorees
Rachel Balzer, Longwood University
Octavia Barnes, Texas State University
Maggie Berigan, McDaniel College
Daejah Bernard, Arizona State University
Victor Chavarin, Sierra Pacific High School
Cydni Cole, Roanoke College
Paige Corkins, American University
Sydney-Anne Cottrell, University of Alabama
Princess Davis, University of North Texas
Kathleen Doyle, DePaul University
Armando Dunn, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Alex Frazier, University of Denver
Elizabeth Fruendt, University of Missouri
Alexa Golden,Kent State University
Shayna Gore, Youngstown State University
Janelle Harrison, United States Military Academy West Point
Jordynn Hernandez, University of Colorado
Terran Hoyt, Oklahoma State University
Christine Mabry, Dickinson College
Katelyn McCann, Bowdoin College
Hannah McGlone, Winona State University
Mannie Robinson, Illinois State University
Ty Rozier, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Caleb Samson, Syracuse University
Kietta Saunders, Indiana State University
Sydney Shelton, Lipscomb University
Brooke Swift, Johns Hopkins University
Emry Tsitouris, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Madi Wallace, Evangel University
Meagan Woodward, Eastern Oklahoma State
Megan Yawman, Carnegie Mellon University
Shelby Zoeckler, Cleveland State University
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, please visit cubuffs.com/wbb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswbb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
Now in its 11th year, the WBCA Thirty Under 30 program recognizes 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches aged 30 and under from all levels of the game. These young coaches have distinguished themselves through community service, mentorship, professional excellence and meaningful impact within the women's basketball profession. Honorees are selected based on their contributions to student-athlete development, leadership within their programs, professional involvement and commitment to advancing the game.
"I'm honored to be named to the 30 Under 30 and give all glory to God for this opportunity and for ordering my steps," assistant coach Jojo Hernandez said. "I'm beyond grateful to JR [Payne], this program and our athletes who bring so much joy to what we do. I'm also incredibly thankful for my family, mentors, and those who have poured into me and supported me along the way. This recognition is a reminder that age doesn't define purpose. When God calls you, He qualifies you, opens doors, and places you exactly where you're meant to be."
In her first season with Colorado, Hernandez has helped guide one of the program's most notable year-to-year improvements in recent seasons. After finishing ninth in conference play a year ago, CU moved into sixth this season while integrating 10 new players through the transfer portal and establishing one of the conference's most competitive defensive units.
The Buffaloes earned four wins over ranked opponents this season, defeating No. 19 Iowa State (68-62, Jan. 14), No. 14 TCU (80-79, Feb. 8), No. 20 Texas Tech (75-68, Feb. 21) and No. 20 Baylor (62-53, Mar. 6), while posting a 14-3 record at home. Colorado also made its way to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, falling by just one point to No. 15 West Virginia (Mar. 7).
That success translated into conference recognition across the roster. Anaëlle Dutat, Jade Masogayo, Zyanna Walker and Desiree Wooten each earned Big 12 Starting Five Top Performer honors during the season, while Logyn Greer was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. Masogayo also earned Preseason All-Big 12 and All-Big 12 Second Team honors. Walker and Wooten each received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition, with Walker adding selection to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
Beyond game preparation and player development, Hernandez's influence is rooted in mentorship, accountability and relationship-building. She has become a trusted voice for Colorado student-athletes, emphasizing confidence, discipline and personal growth while helping players navigate challenges on and off the court. Her ability to pair high expectations with genuine support has helped foster a culture of resilience and belief within the program. She consistently invests in individual relationships, celebrating progress and encouraging growth in ways that resonate across the roster.
"Jojo is one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country—authentic, caring, and relentlessly hardworking," head coach JR Payne stated. "She has built meaningful relationships that make her both respected by her peers and truly valued by her student-athletes."
Widely respected for her preparation, composure and positive leadership, Hernandez contributes across athlete development, recruiting, scouting and day-to-day program operations, bringing a solutions-oriented mindset that has made an immediate impact.
Before arriving in Boulder, Hernandez spent two seasons at Stephen F. Austin State University, serving as an assistant coach from 2023-25 and helping lead the Ladyjacks to a 51-21 record, back-to-back conference tournament championship appearances, and a Southland Conference Tournament title that resulted in the program's first NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament appearance since 2022.
Prior to that, she was on staff at UT Arlington from 2021-23, beginning as a graduate assistant before being promoted to Director of Player Development. During her time there, UT Arlington posted a 20-8 record, won the Sun Belt Tournament, and advanced to the 2022 NCAA Tournament. A native of McKinney, Hernandez began her collegiate playing career at Collin College before transferring to UT Arlington. After sitting out the 2019-20 season due to a knee injury, she returned in 2020-21 and averaged 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 steals in 13 games.
Her WBCA Thirty Under 30 selection adds to previous national recognition through the WBCA's "So You Want to Be a Coach" program, where she was selected in 2021 as the only Sun Belt Conference student-athlete chosen and one of just 18 Division I participants nationwide.
2026 WBCA Thirty Under 30 honorees
Rachel Balzer, Longwood University
Octavia Barnes, Texas State University
Maggie Berigan, McDaniel College
Daejah Bernard, Arizona State University
Victor Chavarin, Sierra Pacific High School
Cydni Cole, Roanoke College
Paige Corkins, American University
Sydney-Anne Cottrell, University of Alabama
Princess Davis, University of North Texas
Kathleen Doyle, DePaul University
Armando Dunn, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Alex Frazier, University of Denver
Elizabeth Fruendt, University of Missouri
Alexa Golden,Kent State University
Shayna Gore, Youngstown State University
Janelle Harrison, United States Military Academy West Point
Jordynn Hernandez, University of Colorado
Terran Hoyt, Oklahoma State University
Christine Mabry, Dickinson College
Katelyn McCann, Bowdoin College
Hannah McGlone, Winona State University
Mannie Robinson, Illinois State University
Ty Rozier, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Caleb Samson, Syracuse University
Kietta Saunders, Indiana State University
Sydney Shelton, Lipscomb University
Brooke Swift, Johns Hopkins University
Emry Tsitouris, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Madi Wallace, Evangel University
Meagan Woodward, Eastern Oklahoma State
Megan Yawman, Carnegie Mellon University
Shelby Zoeckler, Cleveland State University
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, please visit cubuffs.com/wbb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswbb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
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