Coaches

COACHING STAFF

Chad Jilek - Head Varsity

Coach Jilek is entering his 15th season as head coach and has compiled a 293-54 overall record at Johnston High School and has over 300 career wins. Last year brought another highly successful season. The 2025-2026 season may have been the best season in program history. Coach Jilek was named the 2026 MaxPreps National Coach of the Year. Johnston finished the season playing in their 7th consecutive state championship game, winning their 3rd consecutive state title, and 5th in the last 7 seasons. Johnston’s 27 wins are a class 5A state record for wins in a season. This was also Johnston’s third straight undefeated season ending the year with 79 consecutive wins which is the longest winning streak in the nation at any level of basketball, men’s or women’s. There have been 5 seasons that a 5A team has finished with a perfect record and Johnston has done it 4 of those years. The Dragons also earned their 8th straight CIML Conference Championship. Johnston spent all season ranked in the national polls (ESPN, MaxPreps, SI.com, and Rivals) finishing the season ranked #1 in Si.com, #5 in Rivals, #11 in MaxPreps, and #18 in the ESPN poll. Johnston qualified for their 12th consecutive Iowa State Tournament (a large school record). The 7 straight state title appearances is an Iowa High School all class record. Johnston is the only team in class 5A to make at least the state semifinals each of the last 9 seasons and 10 out of the previous 11. Johnston has been ranked in the IGHSAU top 10 each week for the past 13 years. As head coach of the Dragons Coach Jilek has been named Iowa Coach of the Year 5 times, West District Coach of the Year 7 times, and Regional Coach of the Year 13 times. Prior to taking over the Johnston Basketball Program Coach Jilek spent 5 seasons as an assistant at Waukee High School where the team qualified for 5 straight state tournaments including 3 semifinals. Before moving to the Des Moines Metro area Coach Jilek spent 5 seasons as Head Coach at Mason City High School (girls), Nora Springs-Rock Falls High School (boys), and Remsen St. Mary's High School (boys). He also coached basketball at the freshman and sophomore levels at Clinton High School and Camanche High School. He is a 1993 graduate of Mason City High School. Coach Jilek earned a BA Degree in Elementary Education from Mt St. Clare College in 1999 and a Masters Degree in Education from Morningside College in 2008. He teaches 8th Grade Early American History at Waukee Middle School in the Waukee School District. Coach Jilek and his wife have two daughters and reside in Urbandale. If you wish to contact Coach Jilek you can email him at: [email protected]

Brad Buchan - Assistant Varsity

Coach Buchan is entering his 13th season with the girls basketball program. He will be entering his third season as an assistant varsity coach. The previous 8 seasons he was the Head JV 1 Coach. Coach Buchan's JV1 teams had tremendous success including multiple undefeated seasons. Coach Buchan credits this success to the talented and hardworking players that have been a part of the program over the years. Coach Buchan has also been a key contributor to the Varsity program as an Assistant Coach during the Dragon's run of 12 straight State Tournament appearances and 5 State Titles. He has also spent many years working with our youth basketball players on skill development at our camps and skill sessions. Prior to joining the high school program, Coach Buchan was the head middle school boys and girls basketball coach at Johnston for 6 years. He was also a coach with the Urbandale boys basketball program in the late 90's. Coach Buchan graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1988 and the University of Northern Iowa in 1992. He teaches Digital Literacy at Summit Middle School in Johnston. Coach Buchan and his wife, Jodi, have two kids, Ben and Zoey, and reside in Johnston. If you wish to contact Coach Buchan, you can email him at: [email protected]

Mallory Bernhard - Assistant Varsity

Coach Bernhard is entering her second season with the Johnston Girls Basketball Program. She joins the Dragons after 12 seasons at the University of North Dakota, including her last five as Head Coach. During her time leading the Fighting Hawks, UND achieved one of the largest win improvements in NCAA Division I women’s basketball from year to year (2021-22) and produced multiple All-Summit League performers. Before taking over the program at UND, Coach Bernhard served as both Associate Head Coach and Assistant Coach, overseeing recruiting, player development, and team operations. Prior to her collegiate coaching career, she was the Head Coach at Assumption High School in Davenport, Iowa, where she guided her teams to back to back state tournament appearances both years at the helm, was named Iowa Coach of the Year in both 2012 and 2013 and compiled an overall record of 50-4. A native of Davenport, Iowa Coach Bernhard earned her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Exercise Science, and Wellness and her master’s degree in Kinesiology. Coach Bernhard and husband have two children, Lou and Lizzie. If you wish to contact Coach Bernhard you can email her at: [email protected]

Christine Wolford - Head JV 1

Christine Wolford will be entering her 11th season with the girls basketball program and her 3rd as the Head JV 1 Coach. The previous 5 years Coach Wolford was the Head JV 2 coach. Her efforts with the younger players has been an important part of our success. She also plays a big part on game nights as she helps complete the stats for the varsity game. She came to us with 13 years of experience at the varsity level in Ohio and Texas and 2 years at the middle school in Johnston. Coach Wolford graduated from Laughlin High School in Laughlin Nevada in 1997 where she participated in Volleyball, Basketball, Track, and Softball. She went on to Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado where she was a member of the basketball and track team and graduated in 2003 with a BA in Accounting, Economic and Finance. Coach Wolford is an intervention specialist at Johnston High School. She and her son, Wayde, reside in Urbandale. If you need to contact Coach Wolford you can email her at: [email protected]

Steve Valline - Head JV 2

This is Coach Valline's 3rd year with the girls basketball program. Coach Valline has over 12 years of high school boys basketball coaching experience and 14 years coaching youth girls basketball. You may have seen him refereeing basketball games over the years, as well. Coach likes to focus on the fundamentals and teach his players the game of basketball. Coach Valline and his wife, Tami, have two girls, Martina and Olivia. If you wish to contact Coach Valline, you can email him at: [email protected]