Terry Borkovic Has Left a Long Legacy at Hopewell with No Plans to Stop

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When Terry Borkovic was a health and physical education teacher at Hopewell High School, he was asked if he’d like to coach the Hopewell Girls Varsity Volleyball team.

He had played club volleyball when he attended Slippery Rock University but hadn’t really given coaching much thought. Little did he know he’d go on to become a Hall of Fame coach who would have a positive impact on the lives of so many players for an exceptional 37 seasons.

“When I started, I didn’t think I’d be here for this long. I really didn’t have any plans, but I was offered the job and I’m happy to have been here ever since,” Borkovic tells Vikings Sports Now.

Under Borkovic’s leadership, the Lady Vikings have made it to 24 consecutive WPIAL volleyball playoff appearances. The 2004 team was inducted into the WPIAL Hall
of Fame Class of 2026 and their leader, Christa Harmotto, went on to earn a spot on the 2012 and 2016 Olympic teams, winning an Olympic Gold Medal.

“I’d consider that to be one of the highlights of my coaching career. Another thing I’m extremely proud of is, I’ve had, I believe 66 girls in my career go on to play in college,” Borkovic said. “We have a girl this year who’s committed to Point Park College, so that’ll be 67.”

Borkovic tries to keep up with all of his former player’s successes.

“I’m constantly on the Internet checking out their careers and what they have going on and what they’re accomplishing and it’s very satisfying to me to see them go on and be successful.”

Bella Ceccarelli, a 2026 graduate of Hopewell High School, started playing for Borkovic with the Hopewell Girls Volleyball program when she was in seventh grade. She plans to play club or intramural volleyball while as a nursing student at Duquesne University.

“Coach B taught me that talent alone is not always enough,” Ceccarelli tells VSN. “Through his emphasis on effort, determination and attitude, he helped shape me into a resilient player who never quit when faced with challenges.”

“As I begin my college journey, I will carry these lessons with me by approaching challenges with the same effort, determination and positive attitude. Whether facing demanding coursework, new experiences or obstacles along the way, I know that success comes from a perseverance and a willingness to keep moving forward, even when things get difficult.”

Former Viking standout Jordan Sirianni, is a 2025 graduate and now attends Washington and Jefferson College, where she plays on the women’s volleyball team. She describes Borkovic as a winning coach.

“The thing I liked the most about Coach B’s coaching style is that he was very serious about the game. Practices were always taken seriously, which led to everyone being competitive,” Sirianni told VSN.

One lesson she learned from him was to cherish her time.

“He would always talk about how fast your high school career will go and I never realized that until it was over. I remember being a freshman and then, all of a sudden, I was playing my last match at Hopewell.”

Each season, Borkovic focuses on player preparation.

“I think one of my strong pints is our preparation,” says Borkovic. “I feel that we prepare our girls very well for the opponents and the upcoming seasons. We drill, you know, consistently and we drill very hard on, basic skills and offensive and defensive concepts.”

Teamwork is also important.

“We constantly tell the kids to control the things that they can control, and we constantly preach attitude and effort, and I think if they have a great attitude and they work hard, no matter what it is in life, they will be successful.”

So, what are his plans for the future and how long does he want to lead the Vikings program?

“I’m not chasing any kind of a record,” said Borkovic. “I’m not chasing any, you know, trying to reach a milestone in my coaching career. I’m just enjoying the kids, and as long as I feel I’m being effective with the kids, and they listen and respect me, I’m going to continue. My wife and I sit down every year, and we evaluate where we are in life every year. But as I’m talking to you right now, I have no plans to retire.”

“I think we’re doing something right, because in today’s culture, if you’re not winning and producing good student athletes, you’re not going to last very long, so lasting this long, I think we’re on the right track. We’re doing something positive for the kids.”