Clayton McMillan will be the Chiefs interim head coach when Warren Gatland takes next year off to oversee the British and Irish Lions, the Kiwi Super Rugby franchise has announced.
Experienced domestic coach McMillan has signed a one-season contract for 2021, allowing Gatland to pour his energy into the Lions' tour of South Africa.
Former long-serving Wales coach Gatland began a four-year Chiefs deal this season which will see him return in 2022 and 2023.
He will be the Lions head coach for a third successive tour next year.
Maori All Blacks head coach McMillan will take up his post after completing his national provincial championship duties with Bay of Plenty in October.
Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins believed McMillan would make a smooth transition as he has worked previously with a number of the Super Rugby team's players, as well as their assistant coaches Roger Randle and David Hill.
