Loyola New Orleans adds accomplished coaching duo to help lead Wolf Pack Rugby

NEW ORLEANS – Loyola University New Orleans Director of Rugby Ryan Fitzgerald has announced the addition of two highly accomplished coaches to the Wolf Pack rugby programs, naming Taylor Howden and James "Doc" Irey as men's and women's rugby coaches.
 

The hires bring an impressive combination of professional, collegiate and international experience to Loyola, with the pair combining for decades of success as players, coaches and leaders at every level of the sport.
 

"We are so proud to announce Taylor Howden and James "Doc" Irey to our coaching staff and to lead our Loyola Wolf Pack," Fitzgerald said. "Both of these Gentlemen are first class and bring an elite skill set of Rugby knowledge and life experiences to Loyola. They are two of the most trustworthy, hardworking and passionate teammates/ leaders/ friends that you could ask for and we are lucky to have them with us." 
 

Howden joins Loyola after spending five seasons as an assistant coach with Major League Rugby's NOLA Gold, where he helped develop one of the league's most dynamic attacking units and played an instrumental role in guiding the club to its first postseason appearance.
 

A current coach with USA Rugby, Howden serves as an assistant coach for the U18 Men's XVs national team after leading the USA U18 Men's Sevens squad to the 2025 Global Youth Sevens Plate championship. He also served as an assistant coach for Manu Samoa during the 2025 international test window, helping prepare the squad for matches against the United States and Chile.
 

His coaching résumé also includes four seasons at Ohio State, where he helped the Buckeyes win Big Ten championships in 2021 and 2024, as well as successful stints leading Columbus Rugby Club and Heat Rugby Sevens. In 2025, he guided Heat Rugby to the RugbyTown Sevens championship and earned RugbyTown Sevens Coach of the Year honors.
 

Before transitioning into coaching, Howden enjoyed an accomplished playing career that included professional stops with the Ohio Aviators and NOLA Gold, where he served as team captain in 2018. He also represented the United States through the USA Hawks, USA Maccabi teams and USA Tomahawks Rugby League while capturing a USA Club Sevens National Championship.
 

"Firstly, I'd like to extend my gratitude to Ryan and the University for allowing me the opportunity to build Loyola Rugby from the ground up," Howden said. "I am excited to get to work with some extraordinary student-athletes who display our team values both on and off the field and within our community. On the rugby side, we will be a team that works hard together towards a common goal, respects our teammates and the opposition, and strives daily to be the best person we can be." 
 

Joining Howden on the sidelines is Irey, who will also oversee the Wolf Pack's strength and conditioning while bringing a unique blend of military leadership and professional rugby experience to the program. His unique background combines two decades of military leadership with six seasons of professional rugby experience.
 

A United States Navy Corpsman from 2005-25, Irey served alongside Marine Corps and Naval Special Warfare units before concluding an accomplished military career. During his 20-year military career, Irey developed extensive leadership experience, guiding teams through complex missions and bringing together diverse units to accomplish objectives in challenging environments around the world.
 

On the field, Irey played professionally for NOLA Gold from 2019-25 while representing several elite clubs and representative sides, including the USA Classic Eagles, All Navy Rugby, All Marine Rugby and USA Military Rugby. His coaching experience includes serving as head coach of New Orleans RFC, assistant strength and conditioning coach with NOLA Gold and assistant coach for All Marine Rugby. 
 

"What excites me is having the ability to sharpen the blade of these young student-athletes," Irey said. "Starting with individuals, providing the catalyst and watching them transform into a lethal pack of wolves. It's truly a privilege  to build a program from the start and couldn't be happier to be back in the trenches with Fitz and Taylor."
 

About Loyola University New Orleans

Loyola University New Orleans is a Jesuit, Catholic university located in the heart of New Orleans. Grounded in a tradition of academic excellence and a commitment to educating the whole person, Loyola prepares students to lead lives of purpose, service, and impact. Through a rigorous liberal arts foundation and a wide range of professional programs, Loyola equips graduates to think critically, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to a global society.
 

The Wolf Pack Athletics sponsors 22 intercollegiate programs competing in the NAIA for one final year before transitioning to the NCAA Division II in the fall of 2027. Guided by the university's Jesuit mission, Wolf Pack student-athletes strive for excellence in competition, the classroom, and service to the community while pursuing a transformative educational experience.
 

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