COACHING STAFF
Chad Jilek - Head Varsity
Coach Jilek is entering his 14th season as head coach and has compiled 266-54 record at Johnston High School. Last year brought another highly successful season. In 2024-25 Johnston was ranked #1 all year finishing with a 26-0 record while winning their 4th Class 5A State Title in the last 6 years. Johnston is the first 5A school to win back to back state titles. There are been 4 seasons that a 5A team has finished a perfect 26-0 and Johnston has done it 3 of those. Johnston finished the '24-'25 season on a 52 game winnings steak, the longest streak in the nation. The Dragons also earned their 7th straight CIML Conference Championship. The Dragons spent all season ranked in the national polls (ESPN, MaxPrepsa). They finished the season ranked #13 in the MaxPreps poll and #14 in ESPN . Johnston qualified for their 11th consecutive Iowa State Tournament (a large school record) and made it to the state championship game for a record 6th consecutive season. The 6 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 8 seasons and 9 out of the previous 10. Johnston has been ranked in the top 10 each week for the past 12 years. As head coach of the Dragons Jilek has been named Iowa Coach of the Year 4 times, West District Coach of the Year 5 times, and Regional Coach of the Year 12 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 Waukee. 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 11th season with the girls basketball program. He has been the Head JV1 Coach for the last 8 years. Coach Buchan's JV1 teams have had tremendous success over the last eight years, 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 10 straight State Tournament appearances and 3 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]
Christine Wolford - Head JV 1
Christine Wolford will be entering her 9th season with the girls basketball program and her 1st 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
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This is Steve’s first 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] or by phone at: 515-229-1940.
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