A Message From New Boys Varsity Coach, Mark Kovats

Dear Eagle Soccer Families,

For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Mark Kovats and I’m the new head coach of the IHS Boys’ Soccer Team and cannot wait to get started with this great group of student athletes. I’m reaching out today for two reasons. First, to provide you with a little more insight into me and my vision for the future of the program. Second, I want to ask you for your help in reaching those goals.

When offered, I happily accepted this head coaching position, and my primary goal is to build a sustainable model capable of program and team and success for years to come. The primary driver is not just to coach great teams, rather create a great soccer program, with cohesion across the 3 teams, and goals to be great at all levels, year in and year out. I am working toward unity across the entire program so that every player feels equally valued regardless for which team they play.

We need everyone on board for this boys soccer program to be successful!

In the past, only the Varsity teams would get new uniforms and JV and JVC would inherit the hand-me-downs. This year, I would like to change that and move to new soccer uniform for all three teams. This is a small step, but hopefully sends a strong message to this group that I want to change the way the program is viewed from outside, provide all players on all teams a sense of "TEAM", and everyone: coaches, players and parents, commit to working to make this the top program in the state.

You are probably asking, “Hey Coach, doesn’t the school pay for the uniforms?” Great question! The ASB covers the majority of the cost of the Varsity uniforms with the Booster Club pitching in to cover the rest. However, I need help raising the extra funds needed to cover the cost of the JV and JVC uniforms. Additionally, there are several other costs that the school doesn’t fully fund but which the Booster Club helps with like transportation, equipment and other gear expenses, away game meals, team dinners, and the end-of-season celebration. These are all meaningful parts of the high school soccer experience, but they require funding each year. To that end, the team managers and Booster Club Rep have put together a couple ways that friends and family can lean in and support the program.

Here are some of the ways that you can help us right now:

Join the Booster as a Boys Soccer Supporter! There are two options for how you can join the Issaquah Booster Club – as a Lifetime member ($500) or as a yearly member ($50). Either way, your membership helps support IHS Boys Soccer! Using the link below, please sign up for the Booster and make sure to indicate that you are supporting Boys Soccer and a portion of those funds will go towards the items listed above. The more Booster members we have, the more funds our program is allocated.

Sponsor the IHS Boys Soccer Team with a Banner! Do you or someone you know own a local business? If so, for a small fee ($450/new or $350/renewal) you can get that company’s logo on a banner placed on the fencing around the stadium. A portion of the fee will go towards creating the banner and the rest of the funds will go to the program to cover the items listed above.

Pass The Hat! No local business? No problem! You can still donate in any amount and 100% of the funds will go towards the IHS boys’ soccer program. For those who want to give at a higher level we are working on a way to recognize your generosity on our new website (stay tuned!) and through a small gift of thanks.

Links to all of the options listed above can be found here: 2025-2026 IHS Boys Soccer Fundraiser - Cheddar Up

You’ll be hearing more from me over the coming months as we get closer to the season and tryouts, but I wanted to get a jump on the fundraising so we can begin working toward these goals for our program as soon as possible.

Thank you in advance for supporting Issaquah Soccer! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

SKO Eagles!

Mark

Thank you,

Mark Kovats

Head Boys Soccer Coach kovatsm@issaquah.wednet.edu