Jim Bolla

James Daniel Bolla Jr. (March 27, 1952 – October 21, 2022) was an American college basketball coach. He was the head women's basketball coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1982 to 1996, with his 300 games won the most in the team's history.

Jim Bolla
Biographical details
Born(1952-03-27)March 27, 1952
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 21, 2022(2022-10-21) (aged 70)
Playing career
1971–1975Pittsburgh
Position(s)Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1975–1977Pittsburgh (men's volunteer asst.)
1977–1978Pittsburgh (men's grad. asst.)
1978–1979Pittsburgh (men's asst.)
1979–1980Pittsburgh (women's asst.)
1981–1982UNLV (assistant)
1982–1996UNLV
2004–2009Hawaii
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1996–2001UNLV (dir. of development)
Head coaching record
Overall364–200
Tournaments3–7 (NCAA)
3–3 (NWIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

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.[3] His 300 wins with the team were the most by a UNLV women's basketball coach at the time of his death, while his 71.4 winning percentage was second to Dan Ayala.[4] 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.[5] The firing followed accusations of verbal and physical abuse from players.[6]

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.[7][8]

In 2015, Bolla began co-hosting a daily sports talk show on KDWN radio in Las Vegas, Coaches' Corner with his friend, longtime NVHOF Las Vegas sportscaster Rich Perez, and later with former Raider Greg Townsend. [9]

Personal life

Bolla was married to Dallas Boychuk. They later divorced just prior to his death. Together, they had one daughter, Sasha.[3][4] Previously, Bolla was married to Sheila Strike, who was co-head coach with him at UNLV.[10] He resided in Las Vegas during his later years.[4]

Bolla was diagnosed with cancer in August 2017. He died on the evening of October 21, 2022, at the age of 70.[4]

Head coaching record

Sources:[11][12]

Statistics overview
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 24–74–01stNCAA First Round
1984–85 UNLV 26–58–01stNCAA First Round
1985–86 UNLV 22–911–32ndNCAA First Round
1986–87 UNLV 21–913–5T–2nd
1987–88 UNLV 25–914–42ndNWIT Third Place
1988–89 UNLV 27–713–5T–2ndNCAA Sweet 16
1989–90 UNLV 28–317–11stNCAA First Round
1990–91 UNLV 25–715–3T–1stNCAA Second Round
1991–92 UNLV 16–1013–5T–2nd
1992–93 UNLV 24–715–32ndNWIT Consolation
1993–94 UNLV 23–714–4T–2ndNCAA First Round
1994–95 UNLV 11–1510–8T–5th
1995–96 UNLV 4–213–15T–9th
UNLV: 300–120 (.714)100–56 (.641)
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (Western Athletic Conference) (2004–2009)
2004–05 Hawaii 11–157–117th
2005–06 Hawaii 18–109–73rd
2006–07 Hawaii 15–149–7T–4th
2007–08 Hawaii 12–186–106th
2008–09 Hawaii 8–234–128th
Hawaii: 64–80 (.444)35–47 (.427)
Total:364–200 (.645)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References
  1. "Jim Bolla". 1987–88 University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lady Rebel Basketball Media Guide. UNLV. 1987. p. 4.
  2. "School of Education: Bachelor of Science". University of Pittsburgh Commencement. University of Pittsburgh. April 24, 1977. p. 44.
  3. "Jim Bolla". Hawaii Athletics. 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  4. Anderson, Mark (October 21, 2022). "Jim Bolla, winningest coach in Lady Rebels history, dies". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  5. 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.
  6. Tsai, Michael; Lewis, Ferd (February 24, 2009). "Hawaii coach kicked her, player says". Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  7. "Bolla wants UH women to play uptempo". Honolulu Advertiser. July 17, 2004. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  8. Hill, Adam (June 4, 2001). "Soesbe's UNLV career over". The Rebel Yell. UNLV. p. 12.
  9. "Coaches Corner Monday, October 19 – Coaches Corner". unlv.kdwn.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016.
  10. Corben, Len (April 20, 2011). "Instant Replay: Sheila Strike's tall tale". North Shore Outlook. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  11. "Lady Rebel Basketball 2015–16 Media Guide" (PDF). UNLV. pp. 112–113, 147. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 16, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  12. "Coaching history" (PDF). Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Basketball 2013–14 Media Guide. University of Hawaii. 2013. p. 60.
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