Girls and Boys Basketball Programs

Logan Cranford is a community coach for the varsity boys basketball team.

Coach Chuck Frierson has coached the MPC junior varsity and varsity MPC boys basketball teams.

Coach Frierson, who is originally from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, played varsity basketball throughout high school and graduated in 2001 from The MacDuffie School in Springfield, Mass. He closed out his high school career with a NEPSAC championship before proceeding to play Division II collegiate basketball at Slippery Rock University. He later transferred to Dominican College in Orangeburg, N.Y., on a full athletic scholarship, where he graduated with a degree in business finance. 

Coach Frierson played professional basketball overseas for eleven years in nearly 25 countries. His career took him to Europe, South America, and the Middle East. He has since earned a master’s degree and specialist degree in physical education. He and his wife, Michelle, have one daughter.

Stephanie Dunn brings an impressive high school and college coaching resume to the MPC athletics program. She has brought home back-to-back State Championship titles for the Lady Eagles. Coach Dunn also serves as the MPCS director of admission.

Prior to coming to MPCS, she has been the Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Assistant to the Sports Information Director at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia. Prior to her time at Berry College, she was the Associate Director of Admission and Head Girls Basketball Coach at St. Pius X High School in Atlanta. While there, she led her team to three state championships, six region championships, and assisted with signing numerous student-athletes to Division I, II, and III collegiate basketball programs around the country. She began her playing career at the University of Georgia, competing in the Final Four under Coach Andy Landers.

As a Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the collegiate level, Dunn has extensive experience with team-building, managing budgets, camps, scouting, and recruiting nationally. She served as the NCAA National Committee Regional Chairperson for the south region. In this role she oversaw the Regional Committee and NCAA South Region National Rankings at the Division III level. Stephanie and her husband, Keith, have two daughters, Kara ’22 and Layla ’27.

Contact Coach Dunn at sdunn@mtparanschool.com

Letitia Johnson is a community coach for the varsity girls basketball team. 

Logan Cranford is a community coach for the varsity boys basketball team.

Cedrik "CJ" Jackson works at Mount Paran as part of the Operations team. He coaches varsity football as the wide receivers coach. He also serves as the head coach for eighth grade boys basketball. He played high school basketball in his hometown Warner Robins GA and some college basketball. He is an assistant coach for high school football and JV/varsity boys' basketball. He is a graduate of Liberty University with an associate in education.

Ben Whitmire serves Mount Paran as the school's Alumni Relations Manager.

Andy Smith is a community coach that assists with coaching the seventh grade boys basketball team. 

Coach Varner has been at Mount Paran Christian School since 2005. He currently serves as the Director of Operations. He taught seventh grade math from 2006-2012. From 2013-2024 he served as the Assistant Director of Operations and the Director of Sports Facilities. Scott is an alumnus of MPCS Class of 1992. He is married to Amanda Tilley Varner (7th grade Bible Teacher) and they have two kids (Addie Anne '27 and Brandt David '31) He has been the Varsity Boys’ Golf Coach since 2007. He was named the MDJ Coach of the Year in 2011, 2017, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

He has won 2 Boys Golf State Championships (’23 & ’24), 11 Area/Region Championships. His teams have earned 12 Top Five finishes for Boys in State Tournament, four State Runner-Up Finishes, two Individual State Champions (Parker Rostowsky ’18, Brody McQueen ‘26), and a Girls 2011 State Runner Up. He has also coached:

• Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach (2008-2013) in which the team had 3 Consecutive 20 win Seasons from 2010-2013 and 3 Consecutive State Sweet 16 Appearances.
• Junior Varsity Boys’ Head Basketball Coach (2005-2008)
• Middle school Girls’ Head Basketball Coach (2013-2017). Back to back Metro 10 Titles 2016 and 2017
• Middle school Volleyball Coach (2007-present). 2014-15 NAML Champions 
• Varsity Head Volleyball Coach (2009-2011)
• Middle school tennis coach (2016-2024). 2017 and 2024 Metro 10 Champions
• Middle school Boys’ Head Basketball Coach (2018-Present) 2023 and 2026 Metro 10 Champions
• Varsity Girls’ Head Golf Coach 2007-2012

Jake Jennings is a community coach that assists with coaching the sixth grade boys basketball team.

Graham Kington is a community coach that coaches the sixth grade boys basketball team.

Kody Kington is a community coach that assists with coaching the sixth grade boys basketball team.

Curtis Daniel III enters his third season as the head coach of the Mount Paran Christian School Middle School Girls Basketball A-Team, having compiled a 28–5 record over his first two seasons.

A former collegiate student-athlete, Daniel played football at Michigan State University, where he earned his degree in Psychology. His experience as a student-athlete has influenced his coaching philosophy, which emphasizes preparation, discipline, accountability, teamwork, and confidence. Daniel’s approach to middle school basketball extends beyond wins and losses. He believes this stage of athletics is critical for teaching fundamentals, establishing strong habits, and preparing young student-athletes for the expectations they will face at the high school level and beyond.

Daniel brings the same principles of leadership, relationship-building, preparation, and accountability from his professional career into coaching. He values the opportunity to help his players develop not only as basketball players, but also as students, teammates, leaders, and young women. Outside of basketball, Daniel is the owner and co-founder of Patchwerk Recording Studios in Atlanta. 

Coaching Record at Mount Paran: 28–5
Year 1: 9–2 • Conference Semifinalist
Year 2: 19–3 • Regular-Season Champions • Conference Champions

Jason George is a community coach that assists with coaching the middle school girls basketball A team.

Jessica Davis is an assistant coach for the middle school girls basketball B team. She works at Mount Paran as a middle school teacher where she teaches directed studies for seventh grade.