The Brumbies will cast a worldwide net to replace outgoing coach Dan McKellar, and hope to have a shortlist of potential candidates drawn up by mid-September.
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McKellar's position will be officially advertised from Monday, while chief executive Phil Thomson is expected to head a committee in charge of seeking out McKellar's successor after it was announced on Wednesday the coach would be stepping down at the conclusion of the 2022.
An ex-Brumbies player will also be invited onto the committee as will someone external to the organisation, much like Australia's former netball coach Lisa Alexander was involved in the process to appoint McKellar as Stephen Larkham's heir at the end of 2017.
"You look at world rugby and provincial rugby, and it [Brumbies coach] is one of the sought after gigs," chairman Matthew Nobbs said.
"We've had World Cup winning coaches, guys who have gone on to be Wallabies coaches. It's certainly right up there as a prestigious appointment.
"We'll go through the process. It'll be a worldwide search I suppose, depending on where different coaches are at in their employment cycles.
"The beauty of it is we've got time. The person that we appoint will probably be employed at the moment, so that gives them an opportunity to do the right thing by their current employer.
"We've got to get it right. It's such an important role within the organisation."
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McKellar has been head coach at the Brumbies for the past four seasons, but has spent the last two months working as Dave Rennie's forwards coach at the Wallabies.
He said this week the time was right to return home to Queensland with his wife and two daughters, and to take in an increased role with the Wallabies.
"It's bittersweet - he'll certainly be a loss to the organisation," Nobbs said.
"Coaches are no different to players, they've got aspirations to get to the top. We provide that pathway for the coaches.
"In many respects it's good that our coaches are getting recognised and getting rewarded for it because it means they're doing the right things in our space. The whole idea of the organisation is to provide opportunities for the players and coaches and administrators as well for players and coaches to progress."
McKellar will remain with Rennie and the Wallabies throughout the Rugby Championship before returning to Canberra for his last season at the Brumbies.
"The Brumbies is a club that's in a pretty good position at the moment, on field and off field, there's really good stability there, there's a really good exciting playing roster, I don't think there'll be any issue with getting quality applicants," McKellar said.
"The club's going about it the right way in terms of getting on the front foot early."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
