US women’s soccer coach agrees to new multi-year contract

Jill Ellis, who coached the U.S. team to the Women's World Cup title last month, has agreed to a new multi-year contract.

Ellis, 48, will remain in charge of the U.S. national team after overseeing the American soccer's first women's Cup championship in 16 years, U.S. Soccer confirmed Tuesday night.

"To watch our players achieve their dreams and continue to inspire fans across the country and the world was one of the most satisfying experiences of my coaching career," Ellis told USSoccer.com. "Nothing is ever easy, and everything in this game is always earned, but I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to continue to work with these great players with the tremendous resources that U.S. Soccer dedicates to the women's game.

"We had a really exciting year, and we are looking forward to more exciting times ahead."

Ellis' previous deal expired last week and the U.S. Soccer Federation could have exercised options to retain her for up to five additional years, according to the Washington Post. The organization decided to void the terms of that contract and sign Ellis to a new deal.

According to the Post, Ellis is expected to guide the U.S. squad through the 2019 World Cup in France and perhaps the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The team's next big competition will be at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The U.S. team returns to the field in two weeks in Pittsburgh to take on Costa Rica. The game kicks off a 10-game victory tour.

"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," Ellis said, "but that's always part of the natural evolution. 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."

Forward Carli Lloyd completed a hat trick in the first 20 minutes of the game to help the United States win its third Women's World Cup title by beating Japan 5-2 in the July 5 championship match in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"What Jill did and the coaching staff did from start to finish earned us this World Cup," Lloyd after the final.

Ellis has compiled an overall record of 29-2-9 since being at the helm of the U.S. team. That record includes her two stints as interim head coach in 2012 and 2014.

"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."