Wigan Warriors have appointed Melbourne Storm assistant Michael Maguire as coach Brian Noble's successor.
The 35-year-old Australian has signed a three-year deal to replace Noble, whose contract runs out next month.
Noble was not offered a new deal after his side's season ended with a 14-10 Super League play-off semi-final defeat by St Helens at Knowsley Road.
Former Wigan prop Shaun Wane will step up from senior academy coach at the DW Stadium to become Maguire's assistant.
"Michael is one of the most highly related young coaches in the game who has learned under a master coach at Melbourne in Craig Bellamy," said Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan.
Wigan needed special dispensation from the Rugby Football League to employ Maguire, who was not at Wednesday's press conference at the DW Stadium but will join the club next month.
A neck injury cut short Maguire's career as a utility player with Canberra and Adelaide but he has since embarked on a blossoming coaching career.
He coached junior sides in Canberra before serving as an assistant to Raiders head coach Matthew Elliott and in 2005 was taken to Melbourne by Bellamy.
Maguire served as the Storm backs coach but took overall charge of the team when Bellamy was away on State of Origin duty.
Maguire is Wigan's 11th new coach in 11 years and their eighth overseas appointment in the last 20 years.
Former Great Britain coach Noble was appointed as Wigan coach in 2006, joining from Bradford Bulls, and immediately set about successfully steering the club from a Super League relegation battle that season.
Between 2007 and 2009 he led the warriors to three play-off semi-finals.
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