FLINT, Mich. — Flint City AFC head coach Michele Krzisnik has been named USL W League Coach of the Year after leading a historic turnaround in her first season at the helm.  Krzisnik guided the Flint City women to an undefeated 9-0-3 regular-season record in 2023. The club won its first Great Lakes Division title and made its first W League playoff appearance.

Last year, the inaugural Flint City AFC side finished last in the division at 2-9-1.  On June 17, Flint City became the first team of 65 in the league to clinch a place in the 16-team single-elimination postseason tournament. The Central Conference rounds were hosted at Kettering University’s iconic Atwood Stadium. Flint City fell in its opening matchup July 6 at the hands of Indy Eleven, which advanced and will play for the national championship July 22.

Coach Michele remarked, "I am grateful to receive the coach of the year award and will accept it on behalf of the entire staff of coaches. As a staff, we have really enjoyed our first year coaching Flint City AFC. We were able to bring in talented young women that really embraced the opportunity and thrived on the competition. I would like to thank Flint City AFC, including Costa Papista, Eddie Hudson, Katie Roe, Kelsey Dunn. We would also like to thank the River Rats supporters group and the Flint media along with Premier Security Solutions and Ally Financial. We are grateful for the opportunity and look forward to building toward another successful season."

Costa Papista, team president and Eddie Hudson, AFC partner commented, “We would like to congratulate Coach Michele on this award. Her leadership and that of her staff has propelled our Women’s side to where we hoped it could be. This recognition is well deserved and the start of something special for Flint City AFC.”

Krzisnik has served since 2019 as director of coaching for Michigan Hawks, where she played in her youth before eventually captaining the University of Michigan women’s program.  As one of the few female coaching directors in the U.S., she oversees Hawks day-to-day operations, including staff development, coaching curriculum, and teaching methodology.

Krzisnik’s coaching career began in 1997. Since then, she has coached Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) national finalists in 2014 and 2019 and a championship just last week in Richmond, VA.  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. 

In her first season in charge of Flint City AFC, Krzisnik was joined on the sideline by associate head coach Doug Landefeld and assistants Dennis Darnoi and Shannon Browning.

Reigning USL W League Great Lakes Division champions Flint City AFC can be found at flintcityafc.com. You can also follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

To keep up with the four-time USL League Two national champion Bucks as they head into the USL2 playoffs, visit flintcitybucks.com. Additionally, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.