Jim Bolla
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | March 27, 1952
Playing career | |
1971–1975 | Pittsburgh |
Position(s) | Center |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1975–1977 | Pittsburgh (men's volunteer asst.) |
1977–1978 | Pittsburgh (men's grad. asst.) |
1978–1979 | Pittsburgh (men's asst.) |
1979–1980 | Pittsburgh (women's asst.) |
1981–1982 | UNLV (asst.) |
1982–1996 | UNLV |
2004–2009 | Hawaii |
Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
1996–2001 | UNLV (dir. of development) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 364–200 |
Tournaments | 3–7 (NCAA) 3–3 (NWIT) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
| |
James Daniel Bolla Jr. (born March 27, 1952) is an American basketball coach who was most recently the head women's basketball coach at the University of Hawaiʻi.
Early life and education
Born in Pittsburgh, Bolla graduated from Bishop Canevin High School in 1970.[1] He played college basketball at the University of Pittsburgh from 1971 to 1975 and was the starting center from 1973 to 1975. The 1974 team was ranked at 10th in the nation, and featured a school record 22-game winning streak. The Panthers advanced to the Elite Eight of the 1974 NCAA Tournament. Bolla graduated in August 1976 with a degree in physical education.[2][3]
Coaching career
From 1975 to 1977, Bolla was a volunteer assistant coach for Pittsburgh men's basketball. He was promoted to graduate assistant in 1977 and full assistant in 1978. In the 1979–80 season, Bolla moved to the Pittsburgh women's basketball program to be an assistant coach.[1]
Bolla joined UNLV in 1981 as an assistant coach, then was head coach from 1982 to 1996. In those 14 years, Bolla had a 300-120 (.714) record, including seven NCAA tournament appearances and 11 seasons with 20 or more wins. During the 1989-90 season, UNLV moved to second in the nation, the highest ranking in school history. That team finished with a 28-3 record, the best mark in school history. He is a three-time Big West coach of the year award winner, because of his work at UNLV. He coached six all-Americans, three Big West player of the year winners, and 24 all-conference selections. UNLV won seven Big West titles under his leadership.[3]
From 2004 to 2009, Bolla was head coach at Hawaii before being fired for cause on April 6, 2009.[4] The firing followed accusations of verbal and physical abuse from players.[5]
Career outside coaching
In the 1980–81 season, Bolla was a photographer for the Eastern Eight (now Atlantic 10) Conference.[1]
From 1996 to 2001, Bolla was director of athletic development at UNLV. In that position, he was in charge of fundraising for the athletic department. Bolla secured a $3.1 million gift for the softball and golf programs among nearly $5 million he helped raise.[3] Bolla went into private business after UNLV declined to renew his contract.[6][7]
In 2015, Bolla began co-hosting a daily sports talk show on KDWN radio in Las Vegas, Coaches' Corner.[8] “Coaches Corner” moved to The Highway Stations in 2018.
Personal life
Bolla is married to Dallas Boychuk, with whom he has a daughter named Sasha.[3] Previously, Bolla was married to Sheila Strike, who was co-head coach with him at UNLV.[9]
Head coaching record
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UNLV Lady Rebels (NCAA Division I independent) (1982–1983) | |||||||||
1982–83 | UNLV | 24–4 | |||||||
UNLV Lady Rebels (Pacific Coast Athletic Association/Big West Conference) (1983–1996) | |||||||||
1983–84 | UNLV | 24–7 | 4–0 | 1st | NCAA First Round | ||||
1984–85 | UNLV | 26–5 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA First Round | ||||
1985–86 | UNLV | 22–9 | 11–3 | 2nd | NCAA First Round | ||||
1986–87 | UNLV | 21–9 | 13–5 | T–2nd | |||||
1987–88 | UNLV | 25–9 | 14–4 | 2nd | NWIT Third Place | ||||
1988–89 | UNLV | 27–7 | 13–5 | T–2nd | NCAA Sweet 16 | ||||
1989–90 | UNLV | 28–3 | 17–1 | 1st | NCAA First Round | ||||
1990–91 | UNLV | 25–7 | 15–3 | T–1st | NCAA Second Round | ||||
1991–92 | UNLV | 16–10 | 13–5 | T–2nd | |||||
1992–93 | UNLV | 24–7 | 15–3 | 2nd | NWIT Consolation | ||||
1993–94 | UNLV | 23–7 | 14–4 | T–2nd | NCAA First Round | ||||
1994–95 | UNLV | 11–15 | 10–8 | T–5th | |||||
1995–96 | UNLV | 4–21 | 3–15 | T–9th | |||||
UNLV: | 300–120 (.714) | 100–56 (.641) | |||||||
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (Western Athletic Conference) (2004–2009) | |||||||||
2004–05 | Hawaii | 11–15 | 7–11 | 7th | |||||
2005–06 | Hawaii | 18–10 | 9–7 | 3rd | |||||
2006–07 | Hawaii | 15–14 | 9–7 | T–4th | |||||
2007–08 | Hawaii | 12–18 | 6–10 | 6th | |||||
2008–09 | Hawaii | 8–23 | 4–12 | 8th | |||||
Hawaii: | 64–80 (.444) | 35–47 (.427) | |||||||
Total: | 364–200 (.645) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
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References
- ^ a b c "Jim Bolla". 1987-88 University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lady Rebel Basketball Media Guide. UNLV. 1987. p. 4.
- ^ "School of Education: Bachelor of Science". University of Pittsburgh Commencement. University of Pittsburgh. April 24, 1977. p. 44.
- ^ a b c d "Jim Bolla". Hawaii Athletics. 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ Daysog, Rick (April 9, 2009). "Hawaii fires women's hoops coach; Wahine hoops coach gets boot". The Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
- ^ Tsai, Michael; Lewis, Ferd (February 24, 2009). "Hawaii coach kicked her, player says". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
- ^ "Bolla wants UH women to play uptempo". Honolulu Advertiser. July 17, 2004. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ Hill, Adam (June 4, 2001). "Soesbe's UNLV career over". The Rebel Yell. UNLV. p. 12.
- ^ http://unlv.kdwn.com/2015/10/20/coaches-corner-monday-october-19/
- ^ Corben, Len (April 20, 2011). "Instant Replay: Sheila Strike's tall tale". North Shore Outlook. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ "Lady Rebel Basketball 2015-16 Media Guide" (PDF). UNLV. pp. 112–113, 147.
- ^ "Coaching history" (PDF). Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Basketball 2013-14 Media Guide. University of Hawaii. 2013. p. 60.
External links
- 1952 births
- Living people
- American sports radio personalities
- American women's basketball coaches
- Centers (basketball)
- Hawaii Rainbow Wahine basketball coaches
- Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball coaches
- Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball players
- Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball coaches
- Sportspeople from Pittsburgh
- UNLV Lady Rebels basketball coaches
- American men's basketball players