Darren Coleman is the new coach of the NSW Waratahs.
The current LA Giltinis boss was on Thursday morning at last confirmed as Rob Penney's permanent replacement, Coleman inking a three-year deal with NSW Rugby.
Coleman's coaching resume is well known across the NSW rugby community given his success with both Warringah and Gordon, but after 25 years of slogging it out looking for a Super Rugby opportunity he says he at last has his dream job.
"I'm passionate about the opportunity to coach the Waratahs. I'm coming home to what I regard as my dream job, one I've been preparing for over many years," he said.
"I also know that this role comes with an enormous responsibility to establish a winning team that will proudly represent the people of NSW as a collective of the professional and community game.
"We have a great deal of work to do to regain our place as the best provincial rugby team in the country. That means a team that Waratahs' members and fans are proud of and the team that every rugby-loving kid in NSW wants to play for as they are growing up.
"I want our players to get back their love of the game, to rebuild their confidence in themselves and in the team. I want them to bring back that winning culture at the Waratahs.
"Finally, I genuinely want to express my gratitude to the LA Giltinis' ownership and management for allowing me to take this opportunity and thank the Los Angeles Rugby Community for their support in 2021."
The Waratahs are coming off their worst season of the professional era having finished 2021 with a combined 0-13 across the Super Rugby AU and Trans-Tasman competitions.
They parted ways with Penney after six rounds of the Super Rugby AU season, but interim coaches Jason Gilmore and Chris Whitaker were unable to arrest the team's slide.
The Waratahs finished the year with a dreadful defensive record, having conceded 265 points in the Trans-Tasman competition alone - 50 more than the Rebels who owned the next worst defensive record.
The Waratahs did however suffer a huge injury toll, with one staffer privately expressing to ESPN that there were genuine health and safety concerns for the playing group ahead of their final game against the Chiefs earlier this month.
Coleman is renowned as being a "players coach" having turned around Warringah and Gordon in the Shute Shield, winning premierships with both clubs over the space of four years.
"He's a pretty upfront and honest type of guy, and I think he was pretty disappointed that he missed out on that Waratahs job a couple of years ago," Stephen Hoiles, Coleman's Giltinis assistant, told ESPN when his boss was linked with the role earlier this year.
"And since he took Gordon to that premiership, which was his second with two clubs in four or so years, there's definitely been some interest there and I know that there was some more interest from other Super sides and there still should be. So yeah he's definitely capable of coaching at that level."
It is unclear who Coleman may look to include in his coaching staff, but Waratahs assistant Matt Cockbain has already confirmed his departure from the club.
Current Australia Sevens and former Eastwood coach John Manenti was also interviewed for the role, so too John Mulvihill who recently departed Cardiff Blues. The Waratahs had hoped former club assistant Simon Cron would have a late change of heart and throw his hat in the ring, but he remains committed to Japanese club Toyota Verblitz.
Coleman faces a huge challenge to turn around the Waratahs' fortunes, particularly given he is already well down the chasing pack when it comes to recruitment for next season.
The Waratahs will lose veteran back-rower Jack Dempsey, but that will be offset by the return of Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper while Ned Hanigan is also expected to rejoin the club once his Japanese season wraps up next year.
Lock and front-row are positions in which Coleman will likely look to add depth, with the Waratahs otherwise possessing a talented but raw playing group.
Coleman has this season built a club from the ground up, establishing the LA Giltinis in the United States' Major League Rugby competition. The Giltinis currently sit atop the Western Conference with a 9-2 record, former Wallabies Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and club skipper Dave Dennis all making an impact.
The exact format of next year's Super Rugby seasons remain unknown, but it now appears that a round-robin full reunited Trans-Tasman tournament will not be a reality.