Jillian Ellis
- Position: Women's Development Director
- Date Of Birth: Sep. 6, 1966
Jill Ellis was appointed as the Development Director for the U.S. Women's National Teams in January of 2011. The hiring, along with April Heinrichs as Technical Director, marks the first time U.S. Soccer has appointed full-time positions to oversee the women's youth national team program and the programs’ overall development.
Ellis will be taking the lead on interacting directly with key coaches within the youth club environment while also guiding and directing the U.S. U-17s, U-15s and U-14s.
Ellis has extensive experience in the U.S. Women’s National Team programs, having served as an assistant coach under Pia Sundhage helping the U.S. Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. Ellis has served two stints as head coach of the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team, guiding the squad to the CONCACAF title in 2010 and to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
She joined the Women’s National Team staff in January 2008 after leaving her first post with the U.S. U-20s, which she had led the since the start of 2007.
Ellis has also had two stints as the head coach of the U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team, the second starting in the middle of 2005, after which she guided the team to the Nordic Cup in Sweden. She also coached the U-21s to the Nordic Cup title in Germany in 2000.
Ellis was also a scout for the USA at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and has served as an assistant coach with the U.S. U-21s and U.S. U-16 Girls’ National Teams.
Ellis joins U.S. Soccer full-time after a highly successful 12-year run as the head women’s soccer coach for the UCLA Bruins. Ellis led UCLA to eight NCAA Final Fours, including seven in a row from 2003-2009, and won six straight conference titles from 2003-2008. She finishes her time in Westwood with a record of 229-45-14. Ellis, who was also head coach at the Illinois, has an all-time collegiate coaching record of 248-63-14.
She was the 2000 NSCAA National Coach of the Year after leading the Bruins to the NCAA Final in just her second season as head coach.
Ellis arrived in Westwood after heading the Illinois women's soccer program for two years. In 1998, she brought the Fighting Illini to a 12-8 record and a first-ever Big Ten Tournament berth. Prior to coaching at Illinois, Ellis served as an assistant coach at the Virginia for one year (1996-97), at Maryland for three years (1994-96) and at N.C. State for another three years (1988-90). As an assistant coach at N.C. State, Ellis helped the Wolfpack secure the 1988 ACC title and an NCAA Final Four appearance.
A forward during her playing days at William & Mary from 1984-87, Ellis was a Third-Team All-American in 1987. In 1984, Ellis helped Braddock Road in Virginia to the Under-19 club national championship.
Ellis grew up in Portsmouth, England and came to the United States in 1981 at the age of 15. She also lived in Singapore for two years while her father helped to develop a national soccer program in that country. She earned her B.A. in English Literature and Composition from the College of William & Mary in 1988 and currently resides in Los Angeles. She has a USSF “A” coaching license.
Ellis will be taking the lead on interacting directly with key coaches within the youth club environment while also guiding and directing the U.S. U-17s, U-15s and U-14s.
Ellis has extensive experience in the U.S. Women’s National Team programs, having served as an assistant coach under Pia Sundhage helping the U.S. Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. Ellis has served two stints as head coach of the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team, guiding the squad to the CONCACAF title in 2010 and to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
She joined the Women’s National Team staff in January 2008 after leaving her first post with the U.S. U-20s, which she had led the since the start of 2007.
Ellis has also had two stints as the head coach of the U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team, the second starting in the middle of 2005, after which she guided the team to the Nordic Cup in Sweden. She also coached the U-21s to the Nordic Cup title in Germany in 2000.
Ellis was also a scout for the USA at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and has served as an assistant coach with the U.S. U-21s and U.S. U-16 Girls’ National Teams.
Ellis joins U.S. Soccer full-time after a highly successful 12-year run as the head women’s soccer coach for the UCLA Bruins. Ellis led UCLA to eight NCAA Final Fours, including seven in a row from 2003-2009, and won six straight conference titles from 2003-2008. She finishes her time in Westwood with a record of 229-45-14. Ellis, who was also head coach at the Illinois, has an all-time collegiate coaching record of 248-63-14.
She was the 2000 NSCAA National Coach of the Year after leading the Bruins to the NCAA Final in just her second season as head coach.
Ellis arrived in Westwood after heading the Illinois women's soccer program for two years. In 1998, she brought the Fighting Illini to a 12-8 record and a first-ever Big Ten Tournament berth. Prior to coaching at Illinois, Ellis served as an assistant coach at the Virginia for one year (1996-97), at Maryland for three years (1994-96) and at N.C. State for another three years (1988-90). As an assistant coach at N.C. State, Ellis helped the Wolfpack secure the 1988 ACC title and an NCAA Final Four appearance.
A forward during her playing days at William & Mary from 1984-87, Ellis was a Third-Team All-American in 1987. In 1984, Ellis helped Braddock Road in Virginia to the Under-19 club national championship.
Ellis grew up in Portsmouth, England and came to the United States in 1981 at the age of 15. She also lived in Singapore for two years while her father helped to develop a national soccer program in that country. She earned her B.A. in English Literature and Composition from the College of William & Mary in 1988 and currently resides in Los Angeles. She has a USSF “A” coaching license.
