The Chiefs have confirmed Clayton McMillan will remain head coach for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, despite the return of Warren Gatland from his hiatus with the British & Irish Lions.
After the Chiefs' winless 2020 season, Gatland temporarily handed over the reins to assistant McMillan as interim head coach, while he returned to the UK to plan and ultimately guide the Lions on their tour of South Africa last month.
McMillan led the team back from the doldrums, securing a place in the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa final, where they lost to the Crusaders.
The Hamilton-based franchise has confimed McMillan will now retain the role next season, while Gatland will move into a new position as director of rugby.
Chief executive Mike Collins says the new structure will allow the "high-performance environment to evolve, while retaining the knowledge and expertise of both coaches".
"[Gatland's] vast experience and knowledge from provincial, Super and international rugby means he is uniquely placed to help develop Clayton as a head coach, and support our wider coaching framework," says Collins.
"Clayton demonstrated this year, both with the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aotearoa and with the Māori All Blacks, that he is ready to progress. This structure allows us to get the best from both coaches."
Gatland's new role will focus on supporting the coaching staff, and shaping and growing the rugby programme and high-performance programme.
Collins compares the arrangement to the title-winning Chiefs sides of 2012 and 2013, when head coach Dave Rennie had former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith in a supporting role.
"We are stoked that both coaches have bought into this new approach, are keen to work together, and that the new structure will allow both of them and the club to grow and develop."
Back in New Zealand after leading the Lions to their 2-1 series defeat in South Africa, Gatland is eager to return to the Chiefs environment and contribute to the club's development in a different role.
"No-one was prouder than I was with the gains made by the Chiefs during 2021," he says. "It was outstanding to see both individuals and the group grow and achieve success, and that includes Clayton, who brought his vision and mana to the head coach role.
"I am excited at the prospect of working with Clayton and the other coaches to build on those foundations, as we strive for success in the new Super Rugby Pacific in 2022."
McMillan is grateful for the show of faith from the Chiefs.
"Having lived my life in the Chiefs region, I am a Chiefs club man through and through, and like Gatland], I want to see the Chiefs back at the top of the Super Rugby table.
"We complement each other well, and one of the major attractions for me when I joined the club was to work alongside [Gatland], and benefit from his immense knowledge and experience.
"We are committed to working together to position the Chiefs rugby club for sustained success and I can’t wait to get started."
The new Super Rugby Pacific competition - which includes expansion teams Moana Pasifika and Fiji Drua - is expected to begin on February 18.
