“After 26 years of involvement with boys high school basketball in Union County - first as a player at Horace Maynard High School for 4 years, then for 22 years as a varsity assistant coach, I have made the difficult decision to resign for personal and professional reasons.” says Mike Johnson. Johnson whose day job is Supervisor of Maintenance at UCPS leaves a remarkable coaching legacy. According to Mike, Lewis Morris, Gary Chandler, and Roger Flatford inspired him to become a basketball coach and served as much needed “father figures” during his youth.

Mike was blessed to have been the captain of the first Regional Championship Basketball Team at Horace Maynard High School in 1994. He played on the varsity team all four years.
For his sophomore through senior year, he was the point guard. The team was the district champion three times, twice during the regular season and once in the tournament. The team achieved a 21-3 win/loss record for 1993 and 1994 district play. In 1994, the team qualified for the Sweet Sixteen. Over his four years, the team won a combined total of 65 games. All the time Mike was learning the skills that he would eventually use when he coached. Mike returned to college to earn his teaching certification as he focused on coaching basketball. He served as a varsity assistant coach on the staff of head coaches Shane Brown, Brian Jessie, Kevin Evans, and Clarke Powers and was the JV Head Coach several years. In 2019, he helped guide the Patriots to become District Regular season Champions when they won 9 of 10 games. In 2024, he again was part of a Regional Finalist team with a Substate appearance, but this time he was a coach with a team that won 22 games. He is so grateful to have been instrumental in achieving 319 total wins in his coaching career.

Mike may have hung up his basketball whistle, but he will be coaching tennis this spring. He leaves basketball to spend more time with his family.

He leaves these words with his players.
“It has been the honor of my life to be your coach.  I will always be your biggest fan.  Always be proud of the small town you come from - represent it well.  Work hard to make your dreams a reality...My heart will always be with the Patriots, and I wish nothing but the best for the team and the school.”

Read his full letter online at historicunioncounty.com.