Faith Mimnaugh, the winningest coach in Cal Poly women’s basketball history, announced her retirement Wednesday after 25 seasons at the helm of the Mustangs.
Mimnaugh, a two-time Big West Coach of the Year, led Cal Poly to back-to-back Big West regular season championships in 2011 and 2012 as well as its first Big West Tournament title in 2013 to take the program to its first NCAA Tournament.
“Reflecting back over the many years of coaching, I feel so blessed to have been a part of such an amazing university,” said Mimnaugh. “I’m so thankful for the opportunity to share in the educational mission of the university through the leadership development lab of the women’s basketball program. I’m grateful for the many people who journeyed with me through the years.”
Hired in 1997, she ends her Cal Poly coaching career with 338 wins, the most in program history and second most in Big West history. She led Cal Poly to either the NCCA Tournament or WNIT four times.
“Hundreds of young women have come through this basketball program in her 25 years as our head coach, and she has made a huge difference in the lives of each and every one of them,” said Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman. “Simply, Faith Mimnaugh makes great Mustangs.”
A pillar in the Cal Poly and Central Coast community, Mimnaugh saw her players named to the all-conference team 51 times, plus 11 all-freshman honors, 13 all-tournament selections and 50 player-of-the-week accolades. Many of those went on to have successful professional basketball careers overseas.
“Faith has been an amazing servant to this university and her student-athletes,” Oberhelman added. “Her impact will be felt for a very long time.”
She also had had three players who were named Big West Player of the Year, including current assistant coach Kristina Santiago twice (she also earned AP All-American honorable mention). In addition under Mimnaugh, Mustang players won the Big West Best Hustle Award nine times and one Best Sixth Player award.
“Each player taught me so much and I hope I was able to help them achieve some of their goals and empowered them to be leaders in their communities,” Mimnaugh said. “Thank you for all your hard work, dedication, love and unbroken spirit. I would also like to thank the coaches, staff, managers, and scout team members who worked alongside me. I’ve been blessed with colleagues who are so gifted and loyal. You have helped to create a family atmosphere in our program where each team member is loved and respected. No one cares what you know until they know that you care. You have all displayed great care.”
Of Cal Poly’s top-10 leading career scorers of all time, Mimnaugh coached seven of them and 21 of the top 30.
“We have had a core of generous donors throughout the years,” Mimnaugh said. “Thank you for sharing your wisdom, encouragement, and gifts. Your investment in these women’s lives has been a game changer. Your impact will affect generations of women.”
“And to the fans, band, cheer squad, and dance team who have cheered on so many teams, thank you for being part of our family and making Mott rock! I know you’ll be there to cheer on future Mustangs.”
Mimnaugh was named Big West Coach of the Year in 2011 after the Mustangs finished in first place with a 12-4 record. Cal Poly ranked 10th in the nation in 3-point shooting that season, led by Rachel Clancy, a guard who not only earned the Big West Player of the Year award but also was a third-team Academic All-American. Clancy went on to play professionally in Spain.
In 2012, the Mustangs won their second regular season conference title in a row, also finishing with a record of 12-4. Santiago was fifth in the country in scoring at 23.4 points per game while becoming Cal Poly’s all-time leading scorer (1,953) and rebounder (851). Also in 2012, Jonae Ervin etched her name into the NCAA record book by leading the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio, at 2.67.
In 2013, Molly Schlemer was named a FullCourt mid-major All-America honorable mention after finishing 10th in the country in field goal percentage while also being selected as the Conference Player of the Year and Big West Tournament MVP. After defeating Pacific in the Big West Tournament Championship, Cal Poly advanced to its first NCAA Tournament.
Off the court, Mimnaugh’s players earned All-Academic honors from the conference 66 times, while Cal Poly women’s basketball achieved 100 percent graduation rates in both 2017 and 2018.
In 2017 and 2018, Mary Kate Evans was named the overall Cal Poly Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Evans was selected for Academic All-District Second-Team honors in 2018, making her one of 12 student-athletes representing 46 Division I universities.
“Thanks to John McCutcheon for believing in me, Alison Cone for helping improve our budget and Don Oberhelman for being the best boss,” Mimnaugh added. “Leadership is tough and you’ve each taken Cal Poly athletics to new levels. Thank you President Baker and President Armstrong for this incredible opportunity to be a part of Cal Poly and for your faithful leadership.”
Prior to arriving at Cal Poly in 1996 to serve as the top assistant coach before being named the head coach the following year, Mimnaugh was the head coach at the University of Evansville from 1993-96.
Before that, she was an assistant coach at North Carolina State under legendary coach Kay Yow from 1989-93, where she helped the Wolfpack reach as high as a No. 2 national ranking.
Mimnaugh played at Loyola Chicago from 1981-85 and remains the Ramblers’ career assists leader with 1,000. She also holds Loyola records for most single-season assists (316), single-season assists average (11.6), and career assists average (9.01).
She went on to play professionally with the Newcastle (Australia) Scorpions, serving as a guard and player-coach from 1987-89.
Mimnaugh was inducted into the Loyola Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
“I have so much gratitude for the entire community. Thank you so much for the opportunity to lead with love.”
Photo Courtesy Cal Poly Athletics
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