USWNT coaching search is high stakes as U.S. Soccer must answer these questions after Vlatko Andonovski era

Andonovski exits the role after the USWNT's earliest World Cup exit

Following the reported resignation of Vlatko Andonovski as the U.S. women's national team head coach, the U.S. Soccer Federation will embark on a high-stakes search for his successor that it needs to get right.

Andonvoski's departure was expected after the USWNT were knocked out of the Women's World Cup in the round of 16, which marked the team's earliest exit from the tournament ever. U.S. Soccer is tasked with resetting the tone after the disappointment Down Under, which makes the decision-making around the new hire just as important as the person the federation eventually chooses to take over the reins of its most accomplished program.

The coaching search comes as the quality gap closes at a rapid pace in women's soccer, but also with less than a year to go until the Olympic Games. Onlookers will no doubt expect the USWNT to rebound from the World Cup performance with a strong showing in Paris, which may be crucial to maintain U.S. Soccer's standing as a federation that has historically been ahead of the pace in the women's game.