AFC Columbia is entering a new chapter. On Nov. 10, club president Zach Fisher and vice president Kurtis Boardsen announced they were resigning from their respective positions. Their departure comes with a smooth transition as current AFCC head coach Chris Miller and Missouri Reign founder, president and head coach Dakota Acock take on new responsibilities. Miller will serve as club president, while Acock steps in as executive director. Matt Frappier will remain in his role as apart of AFC.
In their positions, Fisher and Boardsen dedicated countless hours shaping the direction of the program and helping the club grow in the community. Fisher made the decision to step down and spend more time with his family as his children grow older. Boardsen, meanwhile, is working on his master’s degree and serves as the boys head soccer coach at Moberly High School.
The predecessors now pass the torch to their successors, Miller and Acock, who will lead the program going forward.
Miller has been the coach for the last three years and an active board member since joining the team in late 2022. He praised the job that Fisher and Boardsen had done in their respective roles.
“A heartfelt thank you to (them) for the past several years and for giving Pre-Professional soccer to the Mid-MO area,” Miller said. “The AFCC story continues on and we look forward to new challenges, triumphs, and futures in the years ahead.”
Acock had been a member of the club for the previous two seasons as an advisor and liaison for the Reign since the merger in the fall of 2023. He was also an assistant coach on the staff last summer. Acock expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.
“I am excited to step in and help AFC’s continued growth and build off the foundation laid by Zach and Kurtis,” Acock said. “We have a lot of work ahead, but we know that our job is to serve this community and work for our players to ensure we give them the best experience possible, and look forward to future summers building something great.”
As executive director, Acock will handle most aspects of the club’s operations, such as preparing for the 2026 Midwest Premier League season. He is also in charge of hiring new interns, who will gain valuable experience in broadcasting and social media, among other duties.
As Miller and Acock recruit more people to the board and coaching staff, it remains “to be determined” whether Miller will remain as AFCC’s head coach.
AFC Columbia will be opening options for new board members in the near future, as the club continues to establish its new structure under the new leadership.
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