Olive Finds His First Step as Loyola Coach Is a Sidestep

To celebrate his hiring as Loyola Marymount’s basketball coach, John Olive flew to Las Vegas on Monday night and had pasta with Rollie Massimino, the new coach at Nevada Las Vegas.

“We laughed and cried and talked about all the things that I have to look forward to,” said Olive, who was Massimino’s top assistant for the last seven seasons at Villanova.

Olive also said he spent a good portion of the meal double-talking his way around Massimino’s attempts to get Loyola on UNLV’s schedule.

“I’m under intense pressure to schedule him,” Olive said during Tuesday’s news conference at Loyola. “Without knowing, I said, ‘Gee, we’re already filled up.’ But he wants to come here and play.”

Olive, 37, who signed a five-year contract, said he will keep assistants Dave Fehte and Bruce Woods from the Loyola staff under previous coach Jay Hillock, who was fired last month.