[ WAHINE BASKETBALL ]
Sources say Bolla
will be Goo's successorThe former UNLV coach is
expected to take over the Hawaii
women's basketball program
The search for Vince Goo's successor is over.
After months of looking for the right person, sources close to the situation say that former Nevada-Las Vegas coach Jim Bolla will be the next leader of the Rainbow Wahine basketball program.
Bolla could be presented to the Board of Regents at Thursday's meeting.
University of Hawaii spokesperson Lois Manin said the university had no comment.
Bolla coached UNLV from 1982 to 1996 before being reassigned in the athletic department. Bolla was co-head coach with then-wife Sheila Strike before becoming the sole head coach in 1988. From 1988 to 1994, he averaged 24 wins a season and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament (1989-91). He is the Lady Rebels' winningest coach with a 300-120 record and is second in winning percentage (.714). But UNLV was 15-36 in Bolla's last two seasons as head coach.
Bolla has not coached in eight years since being reassigned in the UNLV athletic department.
He was the director of athletic development from 1996 to 2000. His contract was not renewed in 2000 and he has been in private business the past four years.
Bolla could not be reached for comment.
There were four finalists for the position. Longtime Rainbow Wahine assistant Da Houl confirmed two weeks ago that she was not offered the head coaching position. But Houl could be offered a job as an assistant coach.
Also among the finalists were Oklahoma assistant coach Bo Overton, who took the job at Missouri-Kansas City, and Florida State coach Sue Semrau. The Seminoles coach withdrew her name after the death of one of her players.
The finalists were interviewed over the phone by the search committee, but only Bolla was flown in for an in-person interview.
UH Athletics
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