Maranatha Christian Academy

Faith Johnson Patterson enters her third season at the helm of the Mustangs, bringing with her one of the most accomplished résumés in Minnesota girls’ basketball history. In her debut season (2023–24), she guided the Mustangs to a second-place finish in the Skyline Conference, setting a strong foundation for the program’s future. She followed that up with a Skyline Conference Championship season in 2024-25. 

A standout player herself, Faith starred at Marshall University High School before earning a Division I scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she majored in Communications. Her passion for the game naturally evolved into a coaching career, one that would become historic.

Faith began coaching as an assistant at The Blake School, contributing to the undefeated 30–0 Class A state championship team in 1994. The following year, she was recruited to take over the Minneapolis North girls’ basketball program. She invited her boyfriend, now husband, John Patterson, to join her on the sidelines, marking the beginning of a coaching partnership that would shape decades of success.

Over her storied career, Faith has amassed a remarkable 560-199 head-coaching record through the 2024-25 season, guiding her teams to:

• 15 conference championships

• 14 section championships

• 14 state tournament appearances

• 8 Class 3A state championships

• 4 state runner-up finishes

• 2 third-place finishes

Her impact on the Minnesota state tournament record books is unmatched. Faith ranks:

• #1 all-time in state tournament winning percentage (85.7%, 36–6)

• #3 all-time in state tournament appearances (14)

• #1 in consecutive state tournament appearances (9)

• #1 in state championships won (8)

Faith also stands as a trailblazer: she became the first African-American female head coach to both coach in and win a girls’ basketball state championship. She remains the only African-American girls’ basketball coach inducted into all three major Minnesota halls of fame:

• Minnesota High School Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame

• Minnesota Basketball Hall of Fame

• Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame

Recognized as one of the five greatest coaches in state tournament history—and the only woman and only African-American on that list—Faith’s influence has been celebrated nationwide. She has been featured in Sports Illustrated (2002), an ESPN feature (2008), the documentary Game On: Women Can Coach, and was a 2014 USA Today nominee for National Girls’ Coach of the Year. Her teams at Minneapolis North and DeLaSalle have earned national rankings and USA Today national award nominations.

Beyond the accolades, Faith is equally proud of the opportunities she’s helped create for young women. Her programs have produced numerous Division I, II, and III athletes, resulting in over $3 million in college scholarships. Many former players have gone on to earn degrees, coach the next generation, serve their communities, and lead lives grounded in faith.

At the heart of Faith’s coaching philosophy is the partnership she shares with her husband, John. Together, they emphasize a mindset that puts God first—a guiding principle that has shaped not only championship teams, but also confident, resilient young women prepared for life well beyond basketball.

Coach Faith Johnson Patterson continues to inspire, lead, and elevate, carrying forward a legacy built on excellence, character, and unwavering faith.