Merrillville’s new girls basketball coach returns home to the Pirates

The 2013 Merrillville graduate went on to attend Grace College to study sports management as a four-year basketball player. Once she earned her degree, Patton-Straughter knew she wanted to begin her coaching career.

She immediately returned to Merrillville in 2017 as the JV head coach for the girls basketball team. After coaching JV and assisting with varsity head coach Amy Govert for a few seasons, Patton-Straughter was ready to step into a bigger role to become a varsity head coach.

Patton-Straughter accepted a head coaching position at Highland for the 2021-22 school year. In her second season as head coach, she led the Lady Trojans to their first sectional championship in 16 years.

After earning a 50-19 record at Highland over the past three seasons, Patton-Straughter is beginning a new endeavor as she returns home to the Pirates.

Patton-Straughter was officially instated as the varsity girls basketball head coach at Tuesday’s board meeting.

“I’m excited to see what Darian and her staff can do with the group we have,” Merrillville athletic director Amy Beckham said. “The girls have responded very well in the past week or so — I’m excited for the upcoming season.”

To be able to return and give back to the school that gave her so much is a blessing, Patton-Straughter said.

“To have all the memories that I have, and to be able to coach another group of girls on the that same floor brings a different type of passion and heart to this position,” she said. 

Patton-Straughter said some of her main goals are to build relationships and a culture, and to win. Merrillville (17-9) lost to Lake Central, the Class 4A state runner-up, in the sectional championship this past season. With the Pirates returning their entire roster next season, Patton-Straughter is confident there will be a high success rate. 

She also looks forward to sharing the floor with her older brother, Anthony “Bo” Patton, Merrillville’s head boys basketball coach.

“For me personally, it’s special because she’s my baby sister,” Patton said. “She has a big heart for helping people, especially young women.”

Beckham said she’s excited for the sibling duo because the pair were raised to put family first. Beckham believes everything else will fall into place with discipline. Because Anthony Patton Sr. does the scorebook for games, Beckham said it will now be a true family affair. 

“I’m just excited overall, I’m honored,” Patton-Straughter said. “I always have to give thanks to God because without him I would not be in this position. I’m just really honored and excited to be back at the same place where it all started.”