US Women's National Team head coach Jill Ellis agrees to new multi-year contract extension

US Soccer and Jill Ellis have agreed to a new multi-year contract extension for an undisclosed length.

Ellis was appointed head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team in May 2014 and was given only five months to prepare for CONCACAF qualifications for the, then upcoming, 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada. Drawn into the tournament’s “group of death” Ellis and her team seemed to struggle through the group stages of the tournament, but emerged first nonetheless.

After progressing through the knock-out rounds to the finals against Japan, Ellis’ USWNT won the FIFA Women’s World Cup 5-2 against the Nadeshiko giving the United States their third title. Ellis’ coaching record is 29-2-9, which includes her current stretch as head coach as well as her time as interim head coach in 2012.

“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,” said Ellis in the statement released announcing her head coach contract extension.

Ellis was the assistant coach at several American colleges before being appointed head coach of the Illinois women’s soccer team for two years, leaving to coach the UCLA Bruins for 11 years and earning the all-time collegiate coaching record with 248 wins, 63 losses and 14 draws.

Following her collegiate coaching career, Ellis served as coach for the women’s U-20, U-21, USSF Development Director, USWNT senior team assistant coach and interim head coach before taking over for Tom Sermanni last year.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement, “When we hired Jill, we all knew the great challenge that was ahead of her and the team. She met that challenge with tremendous passion and knowledge to win what was perhaps the most difficult Women’s World Cup tournament in history.”

Currently the U.S. Women’s National Team is preparing for their 10-city victory tour across the United States to celebrate the organization’s third World Cup win with ticket sales already breaking records for women’s soccer matches in the United States.