Jill Ellis '88, L.H.D. '16, P '27

Chief Football Officer, FIFA

Jill Ellis ’88, L.H.D. ’16, P ’27 serves as Chief Football Officer for FIFA and as a member of its executive management team. She leads the development and implementation of FIFA’s global football strategy, with responsibility for key technical areas that support the growth of the game competitively and commercially worldwide.

A U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer, Ellis is the winningest head coach in U.S. Women’s National Team history. She led the team to consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup championships in 2015 and 2019, finishing her tenure with 106 wins, seven losses and 19 ties. She also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. teams that won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012 and twice earned FIFA World Coach of the Year honors.

Before joining FIFA, Ellis served as president of San Diego Wave FC. Under her leadership, the Wave became the first expansion team in National Women’s Soccer League history to reach the playoffs and set league attendance records during its inaugural season. She previously spent 12 years as head coach at UCLA, leading the Bruins to eight College Cup appearances and six consecutive conference championships.

Originally from Portsmouth, England, Ellis moved to the United States at age 15. She earned a bachelor’s degree in literature and composition from William & Mary, where she played forward for the women’s soccer team and earned All-America honors. She later joined the William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame and received the Alumni Medallion, the university’s highest recognition for alumni service.

William & Mary awarded Ellis an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2016. She also belongs to FIFA Legends and continues to advance leadership development and opportunities for women and young people throughout the sport.