Jill Ellis has agreed to a new multi-year contract as coach of the United States women’s national team, as first reported by Steve Goff of the Washington Post.
Ellis’ initial contract — signed in May 2014 after Tom Sermanni was unceremoniously fired — ended last week. Ellis is expected to guide the United States through the next World Cup in France in 2019 and possibly through the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
“When we hired Jill, we all knew the great challenge that was ahead of her and the team,” U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said. “She met that challenge with tremendous passion and knowledge to win what was perhaps the most difficult Women’s World Cup tournament in history. As we look towards the Rio Olympics and build towards the 2019 World Cup in France, we think Jill is the ideal person to lead the next generation of the Women’s National Team.”
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Last month, Ellis led the United States to its first Women’s World Cup title since 1999. The Americans dominated Japan in the final, winning 5-2 behind a hat trick by Carli Lloyd.
U.S. Soccer could have extended Ellis’ contract for the next five years through options, but the previous contract was voided, according to Goff’s report, for a renegotiated deal. Ellis’ previous deal paid her between $185,000 and $215,000, according to USSF documents.
Ellis’ next major test is the 2016 Olympics in Rio. The Americans are three-time defending Olympic champions.
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“We are going to have some turnover on the National Team as we look towards the Olympics and the next Women’s World Cup in France, but that’s always part of the natural evolution,” Ellis said. “It will be the job of the players and staff to keep up the world-class level of effort and intensity to meet the high expectations of this program. It’s a challenge we are all looking forward to.”
The United States women begin their World Cup victory tour on August 16 against Costa Rica in Pittsburgh, Pa.