DARRIUS BARNES
Darrius Barnes is the President of AC Grand Rapids, leading the strategic and operational oversight of the MLS NEXT Pro club. In this role, he oversees all aspects of the organization’s business and sporting operations, driving growth initiatives, building community engagement, and laying the foundation for long-term success both on and off the pitch.
Previously, Barnes served as President of Crown Legacy FC, the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of Charlotte FC, where he was responsible for the club’s business operations and sporting functions, and helped guide strategic initiatives across the Charlotte FC enterprise. Named the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Executive of the Year, Barnes has earned recognition for his visionary leadership, collaborative approach, and commitment to building high-performing organizations that connect deeply with their communities.
Before joining Charlotte FC, Barnes worked at Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) as Manager of Partnership Marketing, where he led strategic partnership initiatives and cultivated relationships with some of the world’s leading brands.
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Barnes is a graduate of Duke University and earned his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. As a former professional player in Major League Soccer, he spent eight seasons with the New England Revolution (2009–2016) and one with the New York Cosmos (2017) in NASL, providing him with a unique perspective that bridges the business and competitive sides of the sport.
When he is not immersed in the world of soccer, you can find Darrius indulging in his love for great food, traveling to new destinations, frequenting fitness studios, binge-watching his favorite TV shows, vibing to his favorite music artists, and spending quality time with his wife, Mallory, and their two children, Maddox and Sunni.
