(WXYZ) — U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Jill Ellis is stepping down later this year, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday. She's the first coach in history to win two Women's World Cups.
Over more than five years, Ellis has coached the most games in U.S. women's team history. She will coach the team through their victory tour and step down in October.
“The opportunity to coach this team and work with these amazing women has been the honor of a lifetime,” Ellis said. “I want to thank and praise them for their commitment and passion to not only win championships but also raise the profile of this sport globally while being an inspiration to those who will follow them. I want to sincerely thank the world class coaches and staff with whom I’ve had the privilege to work - they are quintessential professionals and even better people. And finally, I want to thank the Federation for their support and investment in this program, as well as all the former players, coaches, and colleagues that have played an important role in this journey.”
With an overall record of 102-7-18, Ellis won eight tournaments during her coaching career with the U.S. including the 2015 Algarve Cup, the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, the 2016 SheBelieves Cup, the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, the 2018 Tournament of Nations, the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
She called up 79 players to take part in at least one training camp, and 56 of those players earned at least one cap.
“When I accepted the head coaching position this was the timeframe I envisioned,” Ellis said. “The timing is right to move on and the program is positioned to remain at the pinnacle of women’s soccer. Change is something I have always embraced in my life and for me and my family this is the right moment.”
She will continue with U.S. Soccer for the next year after stepping down as the role of an ambassador.
She was named head coach on May 16, 2014, and was the eighth coach in USWNT history. 13 months later, she won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Ellis earned FIFA and Concacaf coach of the year honors in 2015.
