The Hawks announced on Friday that former AFL gun Jackson Trengove would take on the top job after joining the outfit this year in a playing role.
The superstar ruckman, who turns 31 later this year, will continue to pull on the boots next year as well.
Trengove, a 180-game talent at Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs, will replace coach Tim Hargreaves.
Hargreaves has decided to step down due to growing work and family commitments.
Barooga president Marcus Fry was thrilled to have Trengove locked in.
“The whole club and town is really excited by the news. There is a real buzz,” Fry said.
“It's not just great for Barooga, but also for the Murray league and football in the region.
“Jackson has been a fantastic addition to the club and we are rapt to have him stick around. His professionalism has made a real big improvement already and we look forward to watching the growth continue.
“Hopefully he can take the club to that next level.”
Barooga sits 10th on the ladder after 13 rounds.
Fry said Trengove was busy contacting possible assistant coaches and players as the Hawks aim to return to finals action.
He said Trengove and his family had settled into life on the Murray River.
“They have just bought a house in town and they have got a young family. Jackson is very good mates with everyone and he spends a lot of time around the club,” he said.
Fry also thanked outgoing coach Hargreaves for his commitment to the role this season.
“Tim has decided to step down and we thank him for his incredible work in the role,” he said.
Meanwhile, Matt Healey has re-signed to coach the Hawks’ A-grade outfit next year.
It will be Healey's second season in charge.
“I'm very happy to go around again and continue to build on what we have started this year,” Healey said.
“Hopefully we can strengthen and improve in 2022.”
The Hawks have been on the cusp of the competition's top six all season, but have struggled for consistency.
“It has been a little bit hard with the stop-start season, we just haven't been able to get the consistency we are after,” Healey said.
“We have performed well in patches, but I feel like we have underachieved as an A-grade side.”
But there are plenty of positives to take away from 2021.
Skye Nash and Georgia Creighton have taken their games to another level and Healey praised the efforts of the pair.
“They have both been the standouts for us this year,” he said.
“Both their professionalism and work rate has been outstanding.”
The Hawks’ 17-and-under outfit has performed strongly and sits fourth on the ladder.
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