Gulati Discusses Women's Soccer Coaching Position, and a New League The president of the United States Soccer Federation said Friday that he hoped to select a new coach for the women's national team in the next three to six weeks, and that the federation was working on multiple fronts to start a Division 1 women's league. "Jill Ellis will coach the team for the two games in October," Sunil Gulati, the leader of U.S. Soccer, said, referring to one of the assistants to Pia Sundhage, who left the program after winning the Olympic gold medal at the London Games and a subsequent victory tour. Gulati added that Ellis had taken herself out of the running for consideration as Sundhage's replacement. "We've had about 25 to 30 inquiries and from that group we talked to a number in people in interviews in Chicago this past week," he said during a telephone conference call. Among the applicants are international coaches, some currently with national teams, some with clubs; American professional and college coaches. Gulati did not offer any names. "We don't have a short list" yet, Gulati said, and added, "ideally, I'd like to have someone by the end of the month, but early November is not a problem. It's also possible that the coach we want might not be available until January 1. Asked if had heard from the "American soccer community" about hiring a native coach, Gulati said: "Without trying to figure out how to define the U.S. soccer community, we've always said if we've got the opportunity to hire an American coach we're going to do that if we think it is the best choice for the program. An American brings a number of things, knowledge of country, the youth program, colleges. An international coach bring a different perspective. Especially on the women's side, where we have a long history of success, and American coach would be a great thing. But we want the best coach to lead the team. The other prime topic, since the demise of Women's Professional Soccer, the star-crossed successor to the Women's United Soccer Association, was the prospect of yet another top women's league, perhaps in time for a new season next spring. Gulati said the federation has been playing a more active role in helping interested parties sort through the myriad challenges. Unlike many Europeans federations, which contribute financing for women's club teams that are often offshoots of success men's club, the reality in the United States has been, and probably always will be different. In W.P.S. and in the W.U.S.A., United States national team players benefited from financial support from the federation and their club teams, which put a financial strain on the clubs and established a stratified salary structure. I don't see us writing a check to any team, for example, but we would possibly pick up 100 percent of the salaries of national team players in the new league. He added that discussions have been held among 11 interested groups for teams in 10 markets. He again declined to be specific, other than to say that the group includes past owners of women's professional clubs and several Major League Soccer teams (D.C. United had a women's team and the Seattle Sounders have licensed their name to a successful women's operation). The goal is to have a framework by the end of October. Asked about the possibility of a new league working closer with M.L.S. clubs, more akin to the European model, Gulati said: "There's a big difference between the U.S., M.L.S. and Europe. M.L.S. is not 75 years old, there are travel issues, the size of stadiums. Some women's teams played some games in M.L.S. stadiums, but that was not the norm. It's really case by case among individual M.L.S. investors. Some are looking at it enthusiastically, others are focused on their own league. He added there has not been a discussion with M.L.S. Commissioner Don Garber. How do I feel about it? It's up to individual M.L.S. teams," Gulati said. Should the U.S. be more interested in hiring an American coach this time around? Should any new women's league work more closely with U.S. Soccer and M.L.S. teams, better taking advantage of the proliferation in intimate soccer stadiums?