Mika Haakana began his head coaching career in the 2010–2011 season with Catz Lappeenranta in Finland’s top women’s division. He remained with the club for more than a decade (2010–2021), coaching first in the SM-sarja and later in the Korisliiga. During this period, he led the team through one of its most successful eras, achieving consistent results at both regular season and playoff level.

Under his leadership, Catz Lappeenranta won the Finnish League championship in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2023, and secured multiple Regular Season titles (2010, 2012–2016, 2018, 2023). The team also finished as Regular Season runner-up in 2011, 2017, and 2024, and reached the league finals in 2011 and 2018. In recognition of his work, he was named Eurobasket.com Finnish League Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2023.

In 2016, he guided his team to the Latvian-Estonian NBL Regular Season Runner-Up position and to the NBL Finals. After his long tenure with Catz Lappeenranta, he became Head Coach of Kotka Peli-Karhut (2022–2024) in the Finnish Korisliiga, reaching the Finnish Cup Finals in 2023 and 2024.

For the 2025/26 season, Mika Haakana took on an international role as Head Coach of Shanxi in the Chinese Women’s Basketball League (WCBA). During this season, Shanxi is currently in 1st position in the league standings.