Copyright M Live Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, MI —A retired soccer player and Major League Soccer executive has been hired as the president of Athletic Club Grand Rapids, the new MLS Next Pro soccer team launching in 2027. Darrius Barnes, 38, of Raleigh, North Carolina, spent the last four years helping build Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC franchise and the last three years as president of its MLS NEXT Pro affiliate, Crown Legacy FC, according to a release. “I’m truly honored to be selected as the first president for AC Grand Rapids, and I appreciate David Van Andel and Dan DeVos’ faith and confidence in me to lead this amazing project,” Barnes said. “I was immediately drawn to the ambitiousness of the ownership group, the Amway Stadium plans, and the local support for teams like the Griffins and Rise.” Van Andel is the majority owner and chairman and CEO of Athletic Club Grand Rapids, AC Grand Rapids for short. DeVos is a co-owner of the team. In a statement, Van Andel said he believes Barnes will “make an immediate impact in Grand Rapids and help us set the standard in our league on and off the pitch.” “Darrius brings unrivaled passion and extensive knowledge and experience to AC Grand Rapids, on both the business side and the soccer side,” Van Andel said. “He’s become a rising star since retiring from an impressive playing career, as he worked in business operations for MLS, helped launch successful MLS and MLS NEXT Pro franchises, and garnered universal respect and built solid relationships throughout the soccer world.” Barnes played for Boston’s MLS team, the New England Revolution, from 2009 to 2016, followed by one year with the North American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos in 2017, according to a release. He went on to serve in several business roles within the MLS. He and his wife, Mallory, will move to West Michigan next year with their son Maddox and daughter Sunni, officials say. “I’m excited to help contribute to this great market, be another civic asset and entertainment option for the city and showcase the soccer market that Grand Rapids is and will continue to be,” Barnes said. “We are looking forward to seeing this community rally around this club, and our club is going to rally around the community as well.”
