Long Time Hopewell Baseball Coach Passes Away
By:
Monday, September 12, 2011 | 12:10 PM
Joe Colella, who was the head coach at Hopewell High School for nearly five decades, passed away Sunday. The cause of death has not been released. Colella finished his 48th year as head coach of the Vikings this past spring.
He had 662 career wins at Hopewell and led the Vikings to WPIAL championships in 1979, 2000 and in 2010. He also guided Hopewell to a PIAA state championship in 1986. Hopewell won 16 section championships under the veteran coach who never shared his age with the media.
Colella also coached Hopewell’s American Legion team for 48 years and has more than 950 wins on that level.
Several years ago, Hopewell High School named their baseball field after the veteran coach, who also was a member of the WPIAL Class of 2011 Hall-of-Fame, with induction ceremonies held three month ago.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by John Syka Funeral Home in Ambridge.
Tags: Hopewell
More Baseball
• What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 18, 2025: North Allegheny, Canon-McMillan look for sweeps• Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school baseball rankings for April 16, 2025
• High school roundup for April 16, 2025: Pair of Fox Chapel pitchers no-hit Mars
• Clutch plays help Latrobe hold off Franklin Regional in Section 1-5A baseball showdown
• What to watch for in WPIAL sports on April 16, 2025: Thomas Jefferson, Baldwin to slug it out