Flint, Mich. — Flint City AFC has tabbed five decorated Michigan Hawks (ECNL) coaches to form a new coaching staff beginning with the club’s 2023 season in the prestigious pre-professional USL W League.  The head coach is Michele Krzisnik.

AFC will also field two USSF ‘A’ licensed associate head coaches: Doug Landefeld and Adil Salmoni, who respectively serve Hawks as executive and technical directors.

Krzisnik became director of coaching for Hawks in 2019, building on a coaching career that began in 1997 after she was team captain at the University of Michigan.  As one of the few female coaching directors in the U.S., she oversees day-to-day operations including staff development, coaching curriculum, and teaching methodology.

Krzisnik coached squads to ECNL national finals in 2014 and 2019. She has helped develop three Michigan Gatorade Players of the Year and two U.S. women’s national team players. In 2014, she was named NSCAA National Coach of the Year for girls, as well as MSYSA Youth Coach of the Year. She holds a USSF national ‘B’ coaching license.  

Krzisnik commented, “This is the start of a very exciting time as we join forces with Flint City AFC in USL W League. We look forward to creating a team where the players enjoy playing and where we can continue the mission of providing young women the opportunity to grow and develop as athletes and as people.”

Landefeld has coached Hawks teams to three national championships: one in 1997 and two in 1999. Before becoming the club’s executive director in 2019, he served as Wolves-Hawks vice president. He also spent nearly a decade as director of coaching for the Michigan Girls Olympic Development Program.  Before his expansive coaching career, he captained Michigan State University and went on to play for Detroit Rockers in NPSL.

Salmoni coached ECNL national finalists in 1998, coinciding with his time as head coach of boys and girls teams at Ann Arbor Greenhills High School. Beyond his role as Hawks technical director, he is also currently on staff for the Michigan Girls Olympic Development Program. He coached U.S. youth national teams at the U16 and U18 levels from 2012 to 2019.

Assistant coaches serving under Krzisnik will include Shannon Browning (USSF 'C' license) and Dennis Darnoi (USSF 'C' license), who helm ECNL sides at Hawks.

To keep up with Flint City AFC, please visit the team website at www.flintcityafc.com. Additionally, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.