Jill Ellis is starting 2016 on a high note, thanks to what she did in 2015.
Ellis was named the 2015 FIFA Women's Coach of the Year for guiding her USWNT squad to the 2015 World Cup totle in Canada. She was quick to shift the credit to ther USWNT players.
"I truly believe this team won the award," Ellis said at the FIFA Ballon d'Or gala.
Ellis's USWNT team started out slowly at the World Cup, but found their stride in the knockout stage and obliterated Japan in the final, 5-2.
Also nominated for the award were Mark Sampson, coach of the England National Team, and Norio Sasaki, coach of the Japan National Team.
Ellis has been the permanent heafd coach of the USWNT since 2014, and with this award in her pocket, plus the World Cup title, it will be hard to move her out of that spot unless she wants to leave.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus