U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced Monday that the contract of women's national coach Greg Ryan won't be renewed for 2008 and beyond.

That's the easy part.

The hard part is finding the right replacement, and doing it by early December - in time to organize a January training camp and outline preparations for the 2008 Olympics in China. A three-person committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately: Gulati, federation Secretary General Dan Flynn and Mia Hamm.

"I think given the very short turnaround time we have before competition makes it very hard for someone without any experience in the United States to be considered very hard," Gulati said. "That doesn't mean it has to be an American coach, but someone with experience in the American game and the American set-up.

"We'll look anywhere and everywhere."

Here's a look at some of the initial candidates.

Pia Sundhage

The skinny: The former Swedish star was a big hit as a coach in the WUSA, where several members of the Boston Breakers - including, reportedly, Kristine Lilly - called her the best coach they'd ever played for. She was the unofficial pick of the veteran players during the 2005 hiring process that yielded Ryan, and she recently told Swedish media that she already has been contacted by U.S. Soccer. Her most recent job was as an assistant for the Chinese national team under Swede Marika Domanski-Lyfors.

The hitch: Will U.S. Soccer take the unprecedented step of hiring a foreigner to coach its vaunted women's program?

Tony DiCicco

The skinny: He famously coached the U.S. women to titles at the 1996 Olympics and '99 World Cup, and more recently worked as a color commentator for ESPN during the Women's World Cup. DiCicco already has been hired by the Boston franchise of the new women's league, which is set to relaunch in 2009. For that reason, he'd be the most logical choice if Gulati wants a quick fix through the 2008 Olympics with the intent of identifying a long-term solution afterward.

The hitch: DiCicco was nudged out after the 1999 World Cup, many have speculated, because the federation believed he sided with the players during their contentious contract squabbles.

Tom Sermanni

The skinny: They don't give out coaching awards at World Cups, but the Scotsman deserved one at the recent Women's World Cup in China. The former WUSA coach (with San Jose and New York) led unfancied Australia into the quarterfinals, where it gave Brazil all it could handle, ultimately losing 3-2 on a late goal. He also coached Australia from 1994-97.

The hitch: It's unclear whether his contract situation with Australia would allow him to pursue the U.S. post.

Jerry Smith

The skinny: He is in his 20th season at Santa Clara and reportedly was a candidate three years ago, but some felt having a wife on the roster (Brandi Chastain) knocked him out of the running. What gives Smith an advantage over other college coaches is twofold: He plays an attractive, possession-oriented style that puts a premium on technical skill, and he has attended most major international tournaments over the past decade to see Chastain play. He also was the U.S. under-21 women's coach from 2000-02.

The hitch: Will having Chastain as his wife still be viewed as a conflict of interest?

Jillian Ellis

The skinny: A native of Portsmouth, England, Ellis has led UCLA to Final Fours for four straight years. Her father, John, is a former assistant coach for the U.S. national team. She recently was named coach of the U.S. under-20s for the 2008 World Championships.

The hitch: Does the soft-spoken Ellis have a commanding enough personality to run the women's national program?

Mark Krikorian

The skinny: The dark horse. Krikorian is the rare candidate with professional, college and youth national experience. He coached Philadelphia in the WUSA, the U.S. team at the under-19 women's World Championships in 2004 and has taken Florida State to the NCAA Final Four in his first two seasons there.

The hitch: Despite playing a more modern system of soccer, Krikorian's U-19 team finished third in 2004, losing to Germany in the semifinals.

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