FCA is proud to present
Eastern Florida State College Women’s Basketball Head Coach,
MJ
Baker, with this
year’s Kay Yow “Heart of a Coach” Award.
Named for the late North Carolina State coaching icon Kay Yow, the
“Heart of a Coach” Award is presented annually by FCA to honor
a basketball coach who has exemplified biblical principles over the course of
his or her career.
“MJ Baker is the definition of a leader who lives out the values
of the Kay Yow ‘Heart of a Coach’ Award — incorporating biblical principles
into her coaching,” said Shane Williamson, FCA President and CEO. “Coach Baker
is a game-changer, a Christ follower using her platform to make a powerful
Kingdom impact. Her leadership has transformed the lives of countless young
women, both on and off the court!”
MJ
Baker began
coaching the Eastern Florida State College women’s basketball team in 2017 and
had led the Titans to back-to-back conference titles and NJCAA Division I
National Tournament appearances. Under Coach Baker’s
leadership, the team won the FCSAA/Region 8 Tournament for the first time in
program history in 2022-23 and became the first team outside of the Panhandle
to win the Region VIII Championship. In her seven seasons as head coach, MJ
Baker has 161 wins and has reached the state tournament all seven seasons.
Prior to coaching at Eastern Florida State College, MJ
Baker led three successful seasons at Broward College and had a 49-34
record. In Baker’s 17 years as a head coach, she has a 355-163
record and has been named coach of the year six times.
Lindsay Walters, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Eastern
Florida State College said, “It is one of my greatest honors to work alongside
someone who holds the qualities on and off the court and we are equally yoked
to do the Lord’s work. She treats each assistant she has had with respect and
honor. There have been assistants under her who do not know the Lord and as
they have moved on in their career eternal seeds of God’s truth have been
planted. Believers who have worked by her side are sharpened and challenged to
seek the Lord more. This year we started FCA ministry on campus
together. It is neat to see how God is using this platform for us as coaches to
love on our athletes in the program and witness to the other coaches in our
department. MJ is known by other coaches as a sincere, kind, thoughtful and servant
leader. Her presence is marked by professionalism and that she loves Jesus.”
“I am deeply humbled and grateful to receive the ‘Kay Yow Heart of
a Coach Award,” said Coach Baker. “This honor is not just about me — it is a
reflection of the faith, mentorship and support that have shaped my journey. It
represents the incredible people who have poured into my life, the lessons
learned along the way, and, most importantly, the calling that God has placed
on my heart.
“Coach Yow’s legacy of servant leadership and unwavering faith
continues to inspire me every day. She showed us all that coaching is about far
more than wins and losses — it’s about investing in people, building character,
and using our platform to make a lasting impact. While winning trophies is the
goal for many, my mission is to create living trophies for God—young men and
women who grow in faith, character, and purpose through the game.
“Above all, I give thanks to God for guiding my path, for opening
doors I never expected, and for reminding me that He can use each of us — no
matter where we are — to make a difference. This award is a reminder of that
calling: to lead with love, integrity, and purpose. And I accept it with a
heart full of gratitude, ready to continue the work He has set before me as His
hands and feet.”
In an effort to keep Christ as an integral part of her coaching
journey, MJ Baker serves as a mentor and Huddle
leader for FCA at Eastern Florida State College.
“One of the greatest privileges of my coaching journey has been
the opportunity to come alongside the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA),
serving as a mentor on campus and leading Huddles,” said Coach Baker. “FCA has
provided a space for athletes to grow in their faith, find community, and be
encouraged in their walk with Christ. Being part of that mission — praying with
and for my athletes, opening God’s Word with them, and watching their faith
take root — has been one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. It is a
reminder that our influence as coaches extends far beyond the game.”
-FCA-
Photos courtesy of Michael Brown, EFSC