U.S. women's ski coach resigns

PARK CITY, Utah, March 26 (UPI) -- United States Ski Team Women's head coach Patrick Riml stepped down Wednesday after a five-year tenure.

U.S. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt made the announcement following the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships in Sugarloaf, Maine.

Riml's run ends after Lindsey Vonn's overall and downhill World Cup titles.

"Patrick did an outstanding job in leading his team," Hunt said in a release from Park City, Utah. "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."

The native of Austria lives in Heber City, Utah, with his wife and daughter Raina. He came to the U.S. Ski Team in 2001 and was elevated to head coach in 2003.

"I had a great time," Riml said. "It was a tough decision. I wasn't planning on it but my family is very important to me."