Springs resident Ryan out as coach of U.S. women's soccer team

CHICAGO -- A controversial decision that led to a lopsided loss on soccer’s biggest stage might have cost Colorado Springs resident Greg Ryan his job as coach of the U.S. women’s national team.

Sunil Gulati, president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, said Monday that Ryan’s contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the year. The U.S. tied Mexico 1-1 in an international friendly Saturday to complete its 2007 schedule.

Ryan, a 50-year-old former Colorado College women’s soccer coach, drew waves of criticism last month when he benched starting goalkeeper Hope Solo in favor of Briana Scurry in the FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinals.

Ranked No. 1 in the world, the U.S. was trounced 4-0 by Brazil and finished third. Solo ripped Ryan, saying, “It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that.”

Gulati said his decision to release Ryan came after an “intensive review” of the national team, which will resume competition in January in hopes of qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“I’m not going to point to any one factor or one individual decision,” Gulati said from Chicago on a conference call. “Obviously, coaches’ decisions impact games. All of that weighed in.”

Ryan went 45-1-9 in two-plus seasons as national team coach. The U.S. won six of eight international tournaments with Ryan at the helm.

Gulati said he will be part of a three-person search committee that intends to hire a new coach within 30 to 45 days.

The other members of the search committee are Dan Flynn, secretary general of U.S. Soccer, and retired star Mia Hamm.

The most likely candidate to succeed Ryan is Tony DiCicco, coach of the Boston Breakers of the re-launched Women’s United Soccer Association. DiCicco, 59, went 103-8-8 in six years with the national team, leading the U.S. to gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 1999 World Cup.