Chances are the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team will complete its season without its head coach, Jim Bolla, on the bench.

The Rainbow Wahine, who have one remaining home game (today) and one road game (March 7 at Nevada) before the Western Athletic Conference Tournament (March 10 to 14) in Reno, Nev., have been without Bolla on the sideline since Feb. 13, when the school announced he was on paid leave.

UH-Manoa spokesman Gregg Takayama said he couldn't say when the status of Bolla, who has missed five games, might change. After this, his fifth season at UH, Bolla will have two years remaining on a contract that is estimated to pay more than $120,000 per year.

While UH has refused to say what precipitated Bolla's removal from the team, a UH player told The Advertiser she filed a complaint against the coach, alleging he kicked her during a practice earlier this season. The allegation prompted the second investigation of Bolla in less than a year.

The previous one, over the summer, resulted in what people involved have characterized as a warning to Bolla.

In the most recent case, UH spokesmen have refused to confirm that a complaint has been filed or that an investigation is under way, saying only that the coach remains on paid leave from the team.

People involved in the Bolla case said players have been interviewed in connection with the allegation by officials outside the athletic department.

Takayama declined to address any pending matters, but speaking generally, said policy calls for a complaint against an employee to be handled by the school's human resources office. Takayama said that office is responsible for investigating allegations and issuing a report.

The timeline, Takayama said, "depends upon the complexity of the issue. Every effort is made to have it done in an expeditious manner but respecting the rights of everyone involved." The report, he said, is then forwarded to the "appropriate department" for action which, in Bolla's case, would apparently be athletics. It may be reviewed by the Manoa Chancellor.

Athletic director Jim Donovan is out of town and, prior to leaving, had referred questions regarding Bolla's situation to Takayama.

Bolla has not returned calls seeking comment.