Coaching Staff

Varsity Head Coach Chris Stafford’s baseball career is rich with championships. As a teenager, Coach Stafford played on the Evans High School state championship baseball team. His senior year he transferred to Augusta Christian to be part of another winning team, as they won their first region championship and went on to be state runner-ups. Chris shared Co-MVP honors with future Houston Astro’s pitcher, Donnie Thomas. Both were named GISA ALL-State Players. However, the most important event that took place during his senior year was his decision to follow Christ. Chris saw first-hand how a coach can impact a player and knew that he wanted to use athletics as a tool to positively impact young people as well. Chris attended Shorter College and Andrew College where he was the starting catcher, batting third in the order. There, he was named team captain and received the presidential handshake award for leadership from the president of the college. Coach Stafford completed his undergraduate at University of Georgia. While at UGA Chris conducted lessons and coached his high school’s summer team. Upon graduation, he was offered the opportunity to initiate the baseball program at North Cobb Christian School. While at NCCS, Coach Stafford won 2 state championships and 4 at the region level. As a result, he received “coach of the year” honors both the state and region level, by multiple organizations. His program included of two middle school teams, a junior varsity team, and a varsity team. He forged their transition from GISA to GHSA. Coach Stafford coached 42 senior baseball players, playing a vital role in 27 athletes advancing to the collegiate level. Also during his tenure at NCCS, he founded STaF Athletics; a Christian sports ministry founded to help young athletes reach their athletic goals while they grow in their walk with the Lord. STaF Athletics has played a role in helping nearly 100 high school players to reach collegiate and professional ranks. In August of 2009 Chris accepted the position of Head Coach at Marietta High School Chris is married to his wife Jacey, a Registered Nurse at Kennestone Hospital. They have daughter, Taylor, and son, Truitt.

Downloads (in pdf format):

Coach Stafford Complete Bio, Coaching Philosophy

Varsity Assistant and Head JV Coach James Wilson enters his second season as influential leader of the Junior Varsity. Col. Wilson is a Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with over twenty three years of active duty service. As a military officer and a community leader, he is truly a visionary in the leadership development arena. Although this is his second year coaching baseball at the high school level, he brings with him years of baseball coaching experience at every age group level. Coach Wilson is a graduate of Enterprise High School where he was a two year varsity baseball starter and the team’s MVP his senior year. After completing high school, Coach Wilson attended Alabama State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology and later his Masters in Business Administration and Management, from the University of Arkansas. He is married to the former Sandy McKinney of Enterprise, Alabama. They have three sons, Terry, Cameron, and Tyler. Coach Wilson has been teaching at Marietta High School since the beginning of the 2002 School Year.

Varsity Assistant Coach Brian Kane enters his first season as Varsity Assistant and JV assistant coaching the outfielders. Coach Brian Kane began his teaching career 7 years ago in Broward County, FL (Ft. Lauderdale) where he started coaching soccer and baseball two years ago.  He now teaches 5th grade for MCS at Dunleith Elementary.  Coach Kane graduated from Pine Bush High School in 1997, lettering in football.  He started his collegiate education at Cobleskill State University where he played lacrosse and soccer and receiving his Associate’s Degree in Business.  He then received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Oswego State University where he began to play another sport, rugby, which he still plays today for High Country Rugby Club in Atlanta.  Coach Kane went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University.  Coach Kane’s wife, Cheryl, is a speech teacher in the Cherokee County School District. 

Varsity Infield Coach Gil. Navarro hails from New Jersey where his family lived in exile from Cuba. Coach Navarro’s heritage was surrounded by baseball where his grandfather Luis was a trainer for the Cuban National baseball team and was inducted into the Cuban Baseball Players Hall-of-Fame. Many of Coach Navarro’s childhood memories included hanging around Cuban ball players playing in the Major Leagues. It was here where he found his love and passion for the game. After his successful youth and high school baseball career, he attended New York University where he studied Computer Science. Today, he aide’s small businesses reach their technological goals, developing custom business software applications, while coaching in his off time. Throughout the 2002-2008 baseball seasons Coach Navarro was the Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach at North Cobb Christian School. During his tenure he helped the program Win 2 State Championships, 4 Region Championships and attained 7 playoff appearances. In addition to the success Coach Navarro brought to the NCC Baseball program, he was also the co-founder of STaF Athletics, a Christian baseball ministry founded to help student- athletes reach their goals while growing in their walk with the Lord. Through both venues Coach Navarro has helped over 100 high school student-athletes go on to experience success in baseball at the college level. These players have been placed in Division I, II, III, NAIA and Junior College Levels while having several scouted professionally. Coach Navarro has been instrumental in preparing his players to become marketable and eligible to play at the next level. Coach Navarro has also been producing nationally top-ranked summer scout teams over the last 10 years. He holds numerous sanctioned State, National, and World Championship titles. Coach Navarro married his wife Rosina in August of 1987. They are raising 3 boys (Gilberto, Luis & Daniel) where they currently reside in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Varsity Assistant Coach Nathan Tidwell was born into baseball. It is in his genes. Nathan is the son of Coach Mark Tidwell, former Head Baseball coach at the Walker School where he won two State Championships (2001 & 2002). In high school, Nathan was a 4-year letterman in both Baseball and Basketball at Dominion Christian. He is presently completing his studies at Tennessee Temple University; projected to graduate this fall with BA in Sports Management and Coaching. At TTU, he played baseball three years, and served as a student Assistant for the Men’s Basketball team. While attending school, he also coached with STaF Athletics 15U Travel baseball team. Additionally, Coach Tidwell has served as: Assistant Baseball Coach at Shiloh Hills Christian, and instructor/coach at the John Smoltz Baseball Camps. He is presently Project manager for Championship Field Construction out of Woodstock, GA and Ft. Myers, FL.

Varsity Assistant Coach Blair Whitener is a native of Kennesaw. He is a graduate of Sprayberry High School where he lettered 3 years. He then attended Augusta State University. He was awarded All-Conference honors as a pitcher. His colligate career was cut short due to injury. Coach Whitener’s coaching career began as the Head Coach for the East Cobb Rebels and Saints. Both of the teams he coached were 17-18 year old teams. He also does private pitching and hitting lessons throughout the Atlanta area. Coach Whitener currently is pursuing a degree in Health and Exercise Science at Kennesaw State University and plans to attend Med. School after graduation in December 2010.