Two members of the Loyola Wolf Pack 2021-22 National Championship men’s basketball team are back with the program under first-year coach Donald Reyes. Javan Felix is set to start his second season on the bench with the Wolf Pack while Andrew Fava will make the transition from player to coach, Reyes announced Thursday.
Felix originally came to Loyola to coach under Stacy Hollowell, who moved on to become the Associate AD for Men’s Basketball at Ole Miss, and Reyes retained the New Orleans native. Felix, who played collegiately at the University of Texas, was instrumental in Loyola’s national championship run last season and he’s excited to build on last season’s success.
“I am extremely excited to be back and coaching under Donald,” Felix said. “I see there is a huge opportunity to grow and learn under someone who has had so much success at the highest level of college basketball. It’s also exciting coming into a position where you know you are being the hunted, coming off a historical season. I am looking forward to building a new foundation and working at it every day.”
Fava played three seasons for the Wolf Pack after transferring from the University of Florida. As a 3-point shooting specialist, Fava ranks ninth in program history with 183 career 3s in 65 games at Loyola, and he finished his last season with 92 made shots from beyond the arc and 54 steals to rank third and 10th in the program, respectively, in a single season. Fava was originally brought on the athletics department’s staff as the University Sports Complex Coordinator, and Reyes offered the Baltimore, Maryland, native a spot on his bench as a volunteer assistant coach.
“I am excited to start the next phase of my athletics career on Loyola’s men’s basketball staff,” Fava said. “I want to thank Brett Simpson and Coach Reyes for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to continuing to grow through basketball while sharing what I have learned over my journey thus far. I am thrilled to remain a part of Wolf Pack athletics and the Loyola community.”
The Wolf Pack men’s basketball team is set to begin their season on Friday, Oct. 28, as an official schedule release will be announced soon.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Donald Reyes:
“Javan is a great basketball mind. His passion for mentorship and genuine human nature is what makes him so special. Javan’s experiences as a player and being around the game at various levels is a key for the continued success of our program. He has all of the intangibles you need to succeed as a coach and I am excited to have him back with the pack.
“I am also excited to have Andrew a part of the staff. He is a bright young mind and has been an integral part of the success over the last several years. Fava’s familiarity and passion for Loyola and Athletics will help us hit the ground running. There is no doubt that he will continue to be a huge asset to the program as he embarks on this new challenge.”
