PARK CITY, Utah - U.S. Ski Team Women's Head Coach Patrick Riml is leaving the team after five successful seasons, culminating in Lindsey Vonn's (Vail, CO) overall and downhill World Cup titles this year. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt made the announcement following the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships in Sugarloaf, ME.

"Patrick did an outstanding job in leading his team," said Hunt. "He is a great coach who has the ability to make a connection with athletes and staff and lead them to success as a team. He made a great contribution to our program and we will miss him."

Riml, an Austrian native, came to the U.S. Ski Team in 2001 as the Europa Cup head coach, and moved up to the top national team spot in 2003. He oversaw a program that produced strong athletic success, including the Olympic combined gold of Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) in 2006, and World Championship medals in 2005 and 2007. Mancuso and Vonn each challenged for World Cup titles the last two seasons.

Riml, who lives in Heber City, UT, had no specific plans but was looking forward to spending more time with his wife Jodi and daughter Raina.

"I had a great time and I always had a lot of support from the entire company," said Riml. "It was a real pleasure to work for the U.S. Ski Team. It was a tough decision. I wasn't planning on it but my family is very important to me."

Riml looked back on Mancuso's Olympic gold, the World Championship medals from Mancuso and Vonn, and Vonn's title run this past season as memorable highlights. "With the whole support crew we brought the women's team to the top level," he added. "I'm comfortable leaving with the girls on top. They will do well in the future."

Hunt indicated that he hopes to announce a new coach shortly to head the women's program.

USSA