Thursday, February 26, 2009

BOLLA GOING, GOING ...

By Fred Guzman
ESPN550.com

As details continue to leak out regarding why the University of Hawaii placed Jim Bolla on administrative leave in the middle of the season, it's evident that he will not be returning as head coach of the struggling women's basketball program.

Regardless of the outcome of a probe on the latest allegations against Bolla, the options appear to have been reduced to only two:

Either he is fired for cause, which would save the cash-strapped athletic department some money, or he is fired for performance, which would entitle him to a buyout of the remaining two years of an annual $120,000 contract.

At the heart of his current suspension, for the lack of a better word, are allegations that Bolla kicked a current player.

And there are reports that Bolla has a history of getting physical and/or verbally abusive with players both here and during a previous head-coaching streak at UNLV. In fact, UH had to deal with verbal abuse issues prior to the current season.

On the performance side, Bolla has never come close to approaching the success he enjoyed during 14 seasons at UNLV, where he won 300 games and qualified the Lady Rebels for seven NCAA tournament appearances.

By comparison, the UH is currently a dismal 6-20 overall and 3-10 in the WAC in Bolla's fifth season on the job. Bolla's record at Manoa was 61-75 at the time he was placed on leave.

UH is currently under the direction of associate head coach Pat Charity. The Rainbow Wahine conclude their home schedule with games against Idaho on Friday and Boise State on Sunday.

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