Jill Ellis has resigned from her position as president of San Diego Wave FC during a challenging period for the organization to assume the newly established role of chief of football at FIFA. Both the Wave and FIFA announced the changes together on Tuesday.
In her new position, Ellis — who has won two World Cups as a coach — will collaborate with Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development.
Ellis departs San Diego at a time of significant transformation for the club. The Levine Leichtman family, spearheaded by Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine, has recently finalized an ownership transition of the team after it finished in 10th place, one year removed from winning the NWSL Shield.
Lauren Leichtman noted in a statement that the Wave is now in the “final phase of identifying a new head coach following a global search.” Reports from The Equalizer’s Dan Lauletta suggest that former Arsenal coach Jonas Eidevall is a frontrunner for the position.
Casey Stoney, the former head coach of the Wave, was dismissed in June despite guiding the team to the best regular-season record in 2023. Shortly after, former Wave employee Brittany Alvarado publicly raised allegations of a toxic work culture in San Diego and called for Ellis’s resignation.
Several additional former employees have echoed concerns regarding poor working conditions, and in October, five ex-employees filed a lawsuit against the Wave and NWSL, citing various forms of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. One of the plaintiffs, Jane Doe, alleged she was sexually assaulted during her initial days with the club but did not report the incident until after her termination, which she claims was unjust.
Earlier this summer, Ellis filed a defamation lawsuit against Alvarado, claiming that Alvarado fabricated emails and disseminated them publicly to tarnish the reputations of Ellis and the club. Two prior investigations by the NWSL found no violations by the Wave.
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman stated in late November, just before the league’s championship, that “universally, any identified misconduct has been addressed.”
“Our policies and procedures are noted and available to everyone across the board – players, technical staff, employees,” Berman elaborated. “Through established processes, we investigate and respond to any complaints that arise, and we remain committed to ensuring that these policies are upheld, providing education for everyone to know we are here to support them in every possible way.”
According to multiple sources reported by The Equalizer, there has been considerable turnover in the Wave’s technical staff since the season concluded in early November. Last month, the Wave revealed that Landon Donovan, who served as one of two interim coaches after Stoney’s departure, would not be returning to the club.
The club’s sale, valued between $113 million and $120 million, was completed in October.
Camille Ashton, the general manager and sporting director hired by Ellis in June, remains the highest-ranking person on the technical side in San Diego following Ellis’s exit, through which she had significant involvement in both on-field and off-field operations.
“Under Jill’s leadership, the Wave established a high standard of excellence as an expansion franchise in the NWSL. The club’s new ownership is dedicated to cultivating a winning culture both on and off the field,” Leichtman emphasized.
In her new position at FIFA, Ellis will focus on “key technical areas related to the game’s development worldwide,” according to a statement from FIFA.
“I want to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff and players of the Wave for their tremendous dedication to the club,” Ellis stated. “I wish the team and the Leichtman-Levine family all the best moving forward. I would also like to convey my gratitude to the City of San Diego for welcoming the Wave into the community with such warmth.”
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