OCA stays in-house for new football coach

David Shelton • February 14, 2025

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Brent LaPrad is the Landsharks’ next head football coach.

OCA stays in-house for new football coach

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Mt. Pleasant – Oceanside Collegiate Academy is excited to announce the hiring of Brent LaPrad as the Landsharks’ head football coach. LaPrad has served on the Oceanside coaching staff for the last two seasons, helping the Landsharks earn back-to-back state titles while serving as defensive coordinator.

“I am incredibly grateful to Principal Christina Brown and Athletic Director Mark Meyer for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to be part of the Oceanside family for a long time,” LaPrad said. “I also want to thank all the coaches who have influenced my career over the past 20 years, especially my father, Coach Steve LaPrad, whose impact on me as a coach and as a man has been immeasurable.”

Brown said it was LaPrad’s proven dedication and commitment to the Oceanside players and program that earned him this opportunity as head coach.

“Coach LaPrad’s dedication to the program, deep football knowledge, and passion for developing student-athletes have been evident throughout his time as Defensive Coordinator,” Brown said. “He has demonstrated a strong commitment to our players and their success, both on and off the field.

“While stepping into a head coaching role presents new challenges, we believe his love for the game and our students will drive him to grow as a leader and continue building on our football program’s success.”

LaPrad is a native of the Charleston area, having attended Summerville High where he earned All-Region honors as a senior and helped the Green Wave to a state title in 1998. He was also a team captain and All-State performer on the wrestling team, winning state championships in 1998 and again in 2001.

Following high school, LaPrad continued to play football while earning a bachelor’s degree in business management North Carolina State University. While a member of the Wolfpack football program, Brent participated in three postseason bowl games.

“Brent has proven himself as an incredibly gifted defensive coordinator for more than a decade,” Meyer said. “He is a large part of the reason our football team has had great success since he arrived. I look forward to seeing him grow as a Head Coach.”

LaPrad began his coaching career at Fort Dorchester High as a defensive backs coach in 2005. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2012 and, in 2015, he helped the Patriots to a Class AAAAA state title. Overall, he spent 17 seasons coaching at Fort Dorchester, including the last three on the offensive side of the ball. He served as the offensive coordinator for the Patriots’ 2022 run to the state title game.

“This is the best high school football coaching job in the state of South Carolina, and it truly is my dream job,” LaPrad said. “I want my eight-year-old son SJ to one day play for the Landsharks and graduate from Oceanside Collegiate Academy. I can;t wait to get to work and continue building something special at OCA on and off the field.”

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First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.