Pete Wilkins resigned as Konacht’s head coach in “Heavy Heart” after the defeat of the Challenge Cup by Race 92 on Saturday.
The French side went to the top in Galway’s 43-40 thriller and booked their place in the semi-finals.
Wilkins placed 13th in the United Rugby Championship Table and became head coach in 2023.
“During this season, I have been having a very open and honest discussion about my future with the club,” Wilkins said in a statement.
“It’s incredibly privileged to be given the responsibility to lead a rugby program here, but the longer I spent in that role, the more I found myself not only in the coaching aspects I enjoy most, but also the more I could contribute most effectively to the team.”
Wilkins joined Konacht as a defensive coach in 2017 and moved to the role of senior coaching in the 2021-22 campaign.
The following year he became head coach under the director of Rugby Andy Friends, and Konacht reached the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship, taking full control in 2023 after his friend’s departure.
Connacht says Cullie Tucker will remain as interim head coach for the rest of the season, and the state will begin the process of recruiting new head coaches for next season.
David Humphries, performance director for the Irish Rugby Football Union, said Wilkins “contributed to the enormous growth of the game” in Konacht.
“Irish rugby is owed a debt of gratitude for his dedication and commitment to the state,” Humphries added.
“As a quality coach and respected figure in Ireland’s rugby, Pete can proudly remember his time at Konacht and hopes to continue his coaching career in the coming years.”
