‘I know the talent is there’: Sandalwood hires Malik Reaves as new head football coach

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sandalwood is turning to a well-known name to try and lead its football turnaround.

The Saints announced the hiring of Malik Reaves this week to help get one of the area’s perennial playoff teams back on steady ground. Reaves was a rival of the Saints during his playing days at Fletcher. Now, he’s tasked with rebuilding the Class 7A program that has fallen on difficult times.

Reaves played at Fletcher and later went on to shine in college at Villanova. He was a second-team All-CAA team selection during his final season in 2017.

Reaves, 29, said that Sandalwood has massive potential to turn things around.

“What drew me there is just about me wanting to elevate the kids and develop the kids not just on the field as well as off the. I know the talent is there and I’m eager to build that winning culture back,” he said. “And this was an opportunity I couldn’t let pass by.”

Sandalwood was a proud program under former head coaches Bob Withrow and later Adam Geis but began to slide after a regional final appearance in 2020. The Saints had back-to-back 5-5 seasons before going 0-10 in 2023. Geis stepped down after that season, and his replacement, Brad Kessel, went 1-19 in his two years there before resigning after the season. Sandalwood snapped that 29-game losing streak in Week 12 with a rout of Parker. Reaves believes he can be the one that helps restore pride to the Saints. He went 4-0 against them as a player during his days playing for Fletcher (45-14, 31-24, 23-21 and 42-14 wins).

“I’m at the point where I have enough knowledge and the right tools to be able to contribute and build a powerhouse program,” Reaves said.

Football coaching changes