Coaching Staff

Mark Kovats was born and raised in Seattle, spending his early years there before moving to the Eastside during middle school. He graduated from Lake Washington High School and went on to attend Seattle Pacific University, where he played soccer for four years. As a youth player, Mark won two state championships in his final club seasons, claimed a regional championship, and competed in the final four of youth soccer in 1987 in St. Louis—some of his most cherished soccer memories. While at Seattle Pacific, his team reached the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1990, narrowly losing in a penalty shootout.

Mark discovered his passion for working with youth during high school and college while coaching and serving as a counselor at Northwest Soccer Camp (Camp Casey). That experience helped shape his love for teaching and being immersed in the game full-time. Over the course of his coaching career, Mark has led several local high school boys’ and girls’ programs during the 1980s, ’90s, and early 2000s. Across 16 years as a high school coach, his teams appeared in five state championship games, winning three titles. He earned his USSF C License nearly 20 years ago and achieved his USSF B License in December 2017.

Mark has been happily married to his wife, Cari, for 25 years. They have three children—Cameron, Cody, and Cate—all of whom have attended Issaquah High School.

This is David Wharton’s first year at Issaquah High. He has coached at Eastside FC since 2012. Prior to that, he coached in the WSYSA and Region IV ODP programs, was the head goalkeeping coach for WSYSA, and also coached at the University of Washington and various premier clubs in Seattle. He holds a USSF B License and formerly held an A License, which lapsed while he was living and working in Finland.

David believes in maximizing the potential of players rather than focusing on systems. He takes a principled approach to coaching, where individual sessions reinforce a framework based on ball dominance and controlling space. He loves winning but loves helping players be successful even more—whatever that means to them.

A Seattle native, David went to college and high school on the East Coast but now calls Woodinville home with his wife, Bonnie and their two kids and two occasionally loud dogs, Astro and Nalu. His daughter Reece is on the Whitman College women’s team, and his son Kieran is about to graduate from Reed College in Portland, where he captained the men’s soccer team.

Cody Buchanan is returning to Issaquah as an assistant coach of the Varsity team. Born in San Jose, California, Cody graduated from Seattle University. When he’s not coaching he enjoys sports, outdoor activities (golf/hockey), and community service. Cody helped with a community service project called Defending the Blue Line, which coordinated donations of used hockey equipment for children of veterans who could not afford equipment. He has also as a youth soccer coach for the Central Valley Soccer Club, managing, coaching, and training boys ages 8-9.

Bruno was born in Glendale, Arizona but moved to the Issaquah area at age 8. A soccer player since he was 13, Bruno played locally for the Issaquah club, ISC Gunners. He has played at all 3 levels of the soccer program at IHS. Since graduating from Issaquah High, Bruno attended Columbia Basin College to play for the men's soccer program and has since transferred to play at Evergreen State College.

He looks forward to another season as the JV Head Coach at Issaquah High and sharing his knowledge and experience to help the student-athletes reach their goals on and off the field.

Dem has been living in the Issaquah area since 1995 and has been coaching at the youth level (Recreational, Select and Premier) since 1996.

High School soccer is important to Dem because "it is where the boys get to play for PRIDE of their school.  Where players from different clubs and levels can make magic together when they embrace those differences.  Issaquah soccer has a rich tradition of being strong at every level.  It is my desire as a coach to empower my players to expand on their creativity, to take chances and to embrace the tradition and unique experiences that high school provide".

Coach Dem has been with the program since 2006.  All of her kids have played soccer for local clubs or at Issaquah.