Widnes Vikings have announced the appointment of John Kear as head coach from July 1st, on a contract until at least the end of the 2023 season.
The two-time Challenge Cup-winning coach is the current Head Coach of Wales and recently left Bradford Bulls.
A club statement read: "The club have undertaken a thorough process to find the right candidate for the job and have decided that with John, as one of the most experienced coaches in the game, is the man to take the club forward and lead the team into an important season next year."
Kear started his coaching career in 1992 with Bramley, before taking on a role within the Rugby Football League's Player Performance Department.
He then took charge of French side Paris St Germain between 1995 and 1996, and moved on to Sheffield in 1997 where he helped the Eagles reach the semi-finals of the Rugby League Premiership Trophy in his first year.
His Challenge Cup victory with Sheffield in 1998 is still regarded as one of the great shocks in the competition's history, after he guided his side to beat a well-fancied Wigan Warriors side who lost just twice on their way to winning the Super League title that same year.
The 67-year-old was in charge of Huddersfield-Sheffield in 2000, before a stint as Assistant Coach at Wigan.
Kear then took the reigns at Hull FC in 2005, and produced another shock Challenge Cup win that same year with the Airlie Birds, defeating a strong Leeds Rhinos side in the final.
When he took over Wakefield Trinity the following year, the club were staring relegation in the face but Kear inspired four wins from their final six matches in a remarkable ‘'Great Escape'.
He then moved on to Batley Bulldogs in 2011 where he oversaw several successful campaigns, regularly finishing in the Championship play-off positions and reaching the Super 8s Qualifiers in 2016.
A switch to Bradford in 2018 followed, where he led them to promotion from League One at the first attempt, before securing a memorable victory over Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup the following season.
Kear has taken charge of over 550 games during his coaching career and his first game in charge of Widnes will be their trip to Workington Town on Sunday, July 3, ahead of consecutive home games against Dewsbury Rams and Newcastle Thunder.
On being appointed as head coach, Kear said: "I'm absolutely delighted. When I left Bradford I didn't envisage returning to the game as quickly as I have, but when this opportunity presented itself, and it is a great opportunity within a great club, it was just too good not to take up.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge, hopefully finishing the season well and building for 2023."
