Nigel Keady, assistant to Galway United's U19s under Johnny Glynn, will take over the team as head coach this season.
The former United defender is looking to build on recent developments, with the team having reached the U19 final.
"It's great to have success as a team, but the basis of the U19s is to provide an opportunity for players to break into the first team. That's what we deem successful.
"Last year, we reached the U19 final, but our main success was having a number of players who went from U19 level straight into the first team. That will be the aim again in the coming year."
Keady, having spent seven seasons with United before spells with Athlone Town, Limerick and Mervue United, joined Johnny Glynn's backroom staff in 2015.
Glynn, head of football development, says Keady is another important addition to the club’s expanding structures.
"Nigel has a very good network of coaches throughout Galway and Connacht. He's very ambitious and is assembling a very good squad. I would be confident going forward that it will be a great appointment for the club.
"Nigel has had a distinguished career at Galway United, he's very experienced and has a good affinity with the club and understanding of how the club was run in the past, but Nigel also has a great vision for where we're going and has great drive.
The U19s reached the final of the competition last year, losing to UCD in Belfield.
US soccer scholarships
• Pass4Soccer, a US placement company for budding soccer players, is holding an information evening for male and female players tomorrow (Friday January 27 ) in Ballinasloe.
The event will be held at Shearwater Hotel, Marina Point, Ballinasloe, at 7.30pm.
