CHICAGO (AP) – April Heinrichs is resigning as the United States women’s soccer coach, six months after leading the team to an Olympic gold medal.

The U.S. Soccer Federation said Tuesday that Heinrichs will remain as a consultant until the end of this year.

No replacement was immediately chosen. Assistant coaches Greg Ryan and Phil Wheddon will direct the team in the interim.

Heinrichs had a record of 87-17-20 capped by the gold medal last summer in the Athens Olympics.

She also was the head coach for the USA’s third-place finish in the 2003 Women’s World Cup.

and its second-place finish in the 2000 Olympics.

Heinrichs said the timing was right for a change.

“For the program moving forward, there is enough time for a new coach to prepare for the next Women’s World Cup and Olympics,” she said.

The new coach is expected to build the program among younger players. Many of the stars of the team that won the World Cup in 1999, led by Mia Hamm, have either retired from international play or are close to retirement.

AP-ES-02-15-05 1803EST