Jill Ellis heading for front office role with Sacramento NWSL and MLS expansion teams
According to a report from The Athletic, former U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis has accepted a front office role with Sacramento Republic FC.
The two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion coach is reportedly going to serve in a role which will help oversee both of Sacramento’s incoming expansion teams, in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL ) and Major League Soccer (MLS).
Sacramento is scheduled to kickoff its inaugural NWSL season in 2022, and will begin MLS competition in 2023. There is no word yet on what Ellis’ official job title will be, but she is expected to have a major role within the club’s sporting department.
Sacramento Republic FC is an existing USL Championship club, which was originally founded in 2012. Their move to MLS was announced back in 2019, and the club is planning to build a 20,000 seat soccer specific stadium, which is expected to open in 2023.
Ellis stepped down from her role with the USWNT in 2019, following her second World Cup title run and the ensuing Victory Tour. The 54-year-old has enjoyed some extended time off since then, until the past several months when she has been linked to some high profile job openings, including the previous D.C. United head coaching vacancy.