Colorado women’s basketball head coach JR Payne has hired a new assistant.

On Monday, CU and Payne announced that Jordynn “JoJo” Hernandez has been hired as the team’s new assistant coach. She replaces Bianca Smith, a former CU great who took a job at Michigan State in April after one year back in Boulder.

Hernandez has been an assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin the past two seasons.

“JoJo has quickly built a tremendous reputation as one of the most talented young coaches in the country,” Payne said in a press release. “Her passion for recruiting, player development and mentoring student athletes is truly exceptional. We’re confident that JoJo will make a significant impact on our program and our community. Her energy, vision and commitment to helping our students reach their full potential align perfectly with our values. We can’t wait to have her here and get things rolling.”

Hernandez helped SFA go 51-21 with two conference tournament championship game appearances in the last two years. SFA won the Southland Conference Tournament this past year to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Hernandez coached at UT Arlington for two years before going to SFA. She was a graduate assistant in 2021-22 and was the director of player development for the 2022-23 season. The Mavericks went 20-8, won the Sun Belt tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022.

“I am truly blessed and excited to be joining the Colorado women’s basketball family,” Hernandez said in a press release. “This opportunity means so much to me — having the opportunity to work with an incredible staff and student-athletes at a place that values both excellence and community. I can’t wait to get started, building relationships and help push this program forward. Sko Buffs!”

A native of McKinney, Texas, Hernandez started her college playing career at Collin College before transferring to UT Arlington. She sat out the entire 2019-20 season due to a knee injury but returned to the court in 2020-21, when she averaged 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals in 13 games.

In addition to hiring Hernandez, CU recently announced that assistant coach Matt Hower will now serve as the team’s basketball strategy and roster management assistant coach.