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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:18 a.m., Saturday, March 15, 2008

Skiing: Bode Miller's coach, U.S. men's coach resign

Associated Press

BORMIO, Italy — Bode Miller's personal coach John McBride and U.S. Ski Team men's coach Phil McNichol announced they were stepping down today.

Miller broke away from the U.S. Ski Team to train and race on his own. McBride, a former U.S. coach, led the breakaway squad and Miller clinched his second overall World Cup title on Thursday.

McBride said he wanted to spend more time at home with his newborn child and told Miller of his plans on Saturday.

"I'm not coming back on my own accord," McBride told The Associated Press. "The most I'll do with him for next season is maybe some preseason dry land training and one or two races."

McBride said he wasn't sure if Miller would hire someone to replace him. Miller's staff also includes former U.S. coaches Forest Carey and Mike Kenney, Miller's uncle.

"He's looking at how to improve his situation," McBride said. "He's looking at different options."

McNichol, who joined the U.S. staff in 1997 and coached Miller to his first overall title in 2005, goes out after guiding Ted Ligety to the giant slalom title on Friday.

"It's good to leave when the guys are doing well and the team is in a good place," McNichol said. "The whole federation is moving in the right direction. I wanted to leave it better than it was when I started."

McNichol is also leaving to spend more time with his family, and U.S. Alpine director Jesse Hunt has not selected a replacement yet.

U.S. women's head coach Patrick Riml could be a possible candidate, but Riml said nothing had been decided.

"We've got to go back for nationals, talk about it, and then we'll see," Riml said.

McBride also ruled himself out of the U.S. job.

"I'm not going back to the national team," McBride said. "Not because I'm not interested in the job, but because I don't want to do it for the same reasons I don't want to work with Bode anymore."

With Lindsey Vonn taking the women's overall title, it was the first U.S. men's and women's sweep since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney accomplished the feat in 1983.

"To see what Ted did and to see Bode regain his form and Lindsey dominate the downhill and two Americans win the overall and show that our country is also in the game is a monumental achievement," McNichol said. "I'm proud of all of them."