Oxbridge Academy moved swiftly to name a new football coach and athletic director.
Sports information director and boys basketball coach Pat Hollern has been named the new athletic director at Oxbridge Academy. (Photo provided)
Less than a week after CEO Robert Parsons was dismissed and the contracts of athletic director Craig Sponsky and football coach Doug Socha were not renewed, the school named Brendan Kent as its new football coach and Pat Hollern as its new athletic director.
Sponsky and Socha were let go Friday following a Palm Beach Post investigation that prompted the private high school’s chairman, Palm Beach billionaire Bill Koch, to investigate the school he founded.
Oxbridge placed Parsons, Sponsky and bookstore manager Ulle Boshko on paid leave in April amid a Palm Beach Post investigation into allegations of a toxic employment environment including sexual harassment by Parsons, high turnover and over-emphasis on football at the expense of academics.
At the same time Koch ordered investigations by a team that included an ex-FBI agent, a forensic accountant and a lawyer.
Kent, who teaches life-fitness classes at the school, has served as the ThunderWolves’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons.
During his tenure, Oxbridge’s defense posted five shutouts and held opposing teams to less than 10 points 11 times. The ThunderWolves forced a school-record 37 turnovers last season.
Kent also served as offensive coordinator at Royal Palm Beach, and was an assistant coach at American Heritage.
In three years of varsity football competition, Oxbridge has won two independent league titles and one district championship.
Hollern is the ThunderWolves’ boys varsity basketball coach and also the school’s Sports Information Director.
Prior to joining Oxbridge, Hollern was the Director of Athletic Development and Athletics at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa.
