Jill Ellis led the USWNT to World Cup titles, but she feels more pressure with NWSL’s San Diego Wave

SAN DIEGO — Nearly three years after earning consecutive Women’s World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, former U.S. women’s national team head coach Jill Ellis is seated in the outdoor patio of a local coffee shop, warm beverage in hand.

On a near-perfect Southern California day in May and just a couple of miles from the beach, Ellis, now president of the National Women’s Soccer League expansion side San Diego Wave FC, was upbeat ahead of her team’s inaugural regular season home-opener. The club president appeared enthusiastic about the start of not only the latest chapter in her life, but also her new role, which has allowed her to have a different impact within the game.

“Stepping away from coaching made me realize I want to pursue this bigger purpose,” said the English-born American citizen, who had made a name for herself as a successful college coach with UCLA before joining the U.S. national team structure. “You just suddenly realize it’s bigger than just the 120 x 72 [field].”

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After becoming the first and only head coach to win back-to-back Women’s World Cups, Ellis made headlines in 2019 when she stated that she would finish her run with the USWNT, leading to her last game in October of that year. Moving on from her remarkable managerial spell that started in 2014, Ellis then worked behind the scenes through a mentorship program and scholarship fund for women’s coaches, before eventually looking towards more ways to influence the sport. Despite the fact that other national team positions were open, she became intrigued by the business end of growing the game and recognized that she could help in a front office position at the club level.

“I could have stayed in the safety of the sideline, because it’s familiar to me, it’s comfortable for me, but I was ready,” noted Ellis.

“I’ve said that you won’t win world championships…