It would be hard to find an individual who had a single bigger impact on changing the face of Augustana athletics than Jim Borcherding. Energetic, explosive and always a treat to watch on the sidelines, “Borch” burst on the scene as the head men’s basketball coach in 1969, inheriting a program that had not enjoyed so much as a winning season since 1964. Within four years the Vikings had three CCIW titles, finished third in the NAIA national tournament, were featured in Sports Illustrated in an article entitled “The Swedes are meatballs no more” and had opened the Carver PE Center with a 29 game winning streak. Borcherding was a flurry of activity on the sidelines and his teams featured hard-nosed defense and balanced scoring.
He never suffered a losing season and when he retired following the 1983-84 season, his overall record was 314-99. Borcherding compiled a mark of 188-52 in the CCIW for a winning percentage of .783 that is still the second highest in league history. His teams won six league titles, finished second seven times, third once and fourth once. His 1972-73 team went 29-2 overall and is still the only squad in CCIW history to record a perfect 16-0 mark in conference.
The Carver PE Center was the Vikings home, starting in the 1971-72 season and Borcherding’s team loved playing in from of the adoring crowd. From 1971-84, Borcherding’s team won 157 and lost just 16 in Carver for a winning percentage of .907. He led four teams into Final Fours (1973 – NAIA, 1975, 1976 and 1981 – NCAA Division III). His 1981 team lost an overtime thriller in Carver to Potsdam State for the national title.
He coached 37 all-conference performers, four All-Americans and two Academic All-Americans. While he made his mark in basketball, Borcherding was the golf coach for 14 years and won nine conference team titles, finished second twice, third twice and fourth once. Four players under his direction won CCIW individual championships and the Vikings made seven post season appearances, three in NAIA and four in NCAA Division III. He also compiled a 29-19 record in two seasons as the baseball coach.
Jim and his wife Glenda live in Bettendorf. The Borcherding clan includes sons Mitch, Mark and Mickey and daughter Jamie along with grandchildren Elizabeth, Caleb and Brett.
