Former University of Hawai'i women's basketball coach Jim Bolla sued the school yesterday, saying he was fired after he complained about discrimination against female student athletes.

The 57-year-old Bolla was terminated last week after UH officials conducted an investigation into allegations that he kicked one of his players. Past players have also complained of verbal abuse by the former coach.

In a 25-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court today, Bolla said he complained to UH Athletic Director Jim Donovan in March 2008 that the school's budget for the women's basketball team was $1 million less than that of the men's basketball team.

Bolla claims that about a month later, he was given notice of complaints against him, "some of which were three or more years old." He says that at the time he complained, his personnel file contained no negative documentation.

"The disparities between the men's basketball program and women's basketball program in terms of funding, available coaches, support staff, and other matters remained consistently unequal for Coach Bolla's tenure at UH despite his complaints and effort to obtain reasonable parity," the lawsuit said.

A spokesman for the UH athletic department had no immediate comment.

Bolla was fired from his $120,000-a-year job on April 6 for cause, meaning that UH is not legally required to pay for two years left on his contract.

He was suspended for the Rainbow Wahine's final nine games this season as the school conducted its investigation into the alleged kicking incident.

The team finished 8-23, setting a school record for most losses. In five seasons under Bolla, the Rainbow Wahine were 64-80 with no postseason appearances.

Bolla's lawsuit was filed by local attorneys Robin Melchor and David Gierlach. Gierlach was an attorney for former Kamehameha Schools trustee Lokelani Lindsey.

Among those named as defendants are Donovan, the UH Board of Regents, school president David McClain, chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and assistant athletic director Carl Clapp.

The suit alleges that UH violated Title IX, the federal law that prohibits gender discrimination. Similar lawsuits by female athletics coach have resulted in multimillion dollar settlements.

In 2007, Fresno State University agreed to pay former women's basketball coach Stacy Johnson-Klein $9 million after she alleged gender discrimination and Title IX retaliation, according to the Fresno Bee.

That same year, Fresno State agreed to pay former women's volleyball coach Lindy Vivas a $5.2 million settlement over gender equity issues.