Boychuk-Bolla: players coach

Dallas Boychuk-Bolla never intended to coach basketball. The current Long Beach State women's basketball coach graduated from Stetson University in Deland, Fla. with a degree in marketing.

"I was going to work on Wall Street," Boychuk-Bolla said.

But after playing basketball professionally overseas for England's Sheffield Hatters from 1986 to 1987, she returned to the United States to start a coaching career.

"I decided to stay with basketball," Boychuk-Bolla said.

Before coming to LBSU, Boychuk-Bolla was an assistant coach at Purdue and helped lead the Boilermakers to national stardom. Over a three-year period, the Boilermakers racked up a record of 69-24, two Big 10 Conference Championships and a trip to the Final Four.

Boychuk-Bolla was also an assistant coach at the University of Louisville for two years, where they posted two 20-plus win seasons and a trip to the National Women's Invitational Tournament. As head coach at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, she led the team to a 22-2 record and the state championship tournament.

Now entering her fifth year as head coach for Long Beach State, Boychuk-Bolla has turned the program around. Last year the 49ers posted a 22-11 record and an NIT bid. Prior to that year the team won 16 games.

"All the teams I have worked with have really worked hard," Boychuk-Bolla said. "If you watch one of our games ... people dive on the floor for balls and just really out work people."

Boychuk-Bolla plans on continuing her success in the college ranks, she said, as she does not wish to move on to the Women's National Basketball Association.

"Part of the reason I really like coaching is watching people grow as people, from their freshman year to their senior year," Boychuk-Bolla said. "Once you get to the professional level you have to deal with a lot more things, attitudes and things like that."

Working with the players is what keeps her going and makes coaching a part of her life, Boychuk-Bolla said.

"I like the players and working with the team," Boychuk-Bolla said. "This year I have seniors on the team that I have coached for four years and I really like them as people."
 

Caroline Limuti/Daily Forty-Niner
Dallas Boychuk-Bolla