Johnston's girls basketball coach named National Coach of the Year

Chad Jilek led the Dragons to a perfect 27-0 season and third straight Class 5A title

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:57am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a girls basketball game, with sharp planes of deep blue, vibrant orange, and metallic silver, conceptually representing the Dragons' dominant and record-breaking performance under Coach Jilek.The Johnston Dragons' girls basketball team's sustained excellence and record-breaking win streak reflect the exceptional coaching and leadership of Chad Jilek.Johnston Today

Johnston's girls basketball coach Chad Jilek has been named the MaxPreps National Coach of the Year after leading the Dragons to a perfect 27-0 season and a third consecutive Class 5A state championship. The Dragons now boast the nation's longest active win streak at 79 games, further cementing Johnston's status as a girls basketball powerhouse.

Why it matters

This honor recognizes the exceptional coaching and leadership that has propelled Johnston's girls basketball program to sustained excellence at the national level. The team's undefeated season and three-peat state titles demonstrate the Dragons' dominance and the impact of Jilek's coaching acumen.

The details

In his tenure as head coach, Chad Jilek has guided the Johnston girls basketball team to unprecedented success, including a perfect 27-0 record this past season and three straight Class 5A state championships. The Dragons' current 79-game win streak is the longest active run in the country for girls high school basketball.

  • Johnston won its third consecutive Class 5A state title in 2026.
  • The Dragons are currently riding a 79-game win streak, the nation's longest active run in girls high school basketball.

The players

Chad Jilek

The head coach of the Johnston girls basketball team, who was named the MaxPreps National Coach of the Year after leading the Dragons to a perfect 27-0 season and their third straight Class 5A state championship.

Johnston Dragons

The girls basketball team from Johnston High School, which has emerged as a national powerhouse under Coach Jilek's leadership, winning three consecutive Class 5A state titles and currently boasting the longest active win streak in the country at 79 games.

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What’s next

The Johnston girls basketball team will look to extend their win streak and defend their Class 5A state title in the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Chad Jilek's recognition as the MaxPreps National Coach of the Year underscores the remarkable achievements of the Johnston girls basketball program, which has emerged as a dominant force in high school basketball through its unparalleled success and record-setting win streak under Jilek's leadership.