Jill Ellis, the only coach to win two Women's World Cups, is stepping down as head coach of the U.S. women's national team.

U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday that Ellis will step down after the USWNT completes its victory tour in October. Ellis, 52, will remain with U.S. Soccer as an ambassador.

"When I accepted the head coaching position this was the timeframe I envisioned," Ellis said in a statement. "The timing is right to move on and the program is positioned to remain at the pinnacle of women's soccer. Change is something I have always embraced in my life and for me and my family this is the right moment."

Ellis told ESPN's Graham Hays that being USWNT coach calls for a "fresh perspective."

She said several elements led to her decision, most importantly the opportunity to make her daughter a priority as she enters high school. Ellis also believes the timing is right for a new coach to take over entering a major tournament year.

Ellis' contract was set to expire after the World Cup with a mutual option to extend it through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The U.S. defended its World Cup title earlier this month with a victory over the Netherlands in the championship game, completing a run in which the Americans defeated all seven of their opponents in France.

Ellis also coached the U.S. to the World Cup title in 2015. She has an overall record of 102-7-18.

"The opportunity to coach this team and work with these amazing women has been the honor of a lifetime," Ellis said in the statement. "I want to thank and praise them for their commitment and passion to not only win championships but also raise the profile of this sport globally while being an inspiration to those who will follow them. I want to sincerely thank the world class coaches and staff with whom I've had the privilege to work -- they are quintessential professionals and even better people. And finally, I want to thank the Federation for their support and investment in this program, as well as all the former players, coaches, and colleagues that have played an important role in this journey."

The timing of Ellis' departure and the cycle of international women's soccer means a new coach will face Olympic qualifying soon after taking over. The exact dates and location of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2020 Olympics have yet to be determined. Two teams from CONCACAF will qualify for Tokyo.

U.S. Soccer announced that it expects to name a general manager -- the first in USWNT history -- soon, before turning its attention to hiring a new coach.

Among the likely coaching candidates is Steve Swanson, an assistant on the World Cup staff and also the head coach at the University of Virginia. Swanson coached the U.S. to the 2012 FIFA Under-20 World Cup title with a roster that included several current senior national team mainstays. That was the only U20 title for the U.S. in the past five editions of the signature youth event.

Currently coach of Reign FC in the NWSL, Vlatko Andonovski led FC Kansas City to back-to-back NWSL championships before that franchise ceased operations. Andonovski's predecessor with the Reign and now coach of the Utah Royals, 39-year-old Laura Harvey, is also a well-regarded rising talent.