Tigers chairman Peter Tom CBE said: “There is no doubt that Richard and Matt have forged an excellent relationship as a coaching team and we are delighted they have agreed new contracts with the club.
“Also, as a reflection of the progress they have made and their own development, Richard becomes Director of Rugby and Matt becomes Head Coach with immediate effect.”
Peter Wheeler becomes Executive Director and he will continue to work closely with Richard Cockerill and head of rugby operations Simon Cohen on all rugby and player-related matters as well as developing relationships with major sponsors and corporate partners. He will continue to represent the Club on the Premier Rugby Board, and the 12 Aviva Premiership clubs on the RFU Professional Game Board and Council.
Peter Tom added: “Cockers and Matt will be the first to thank the backroom staff and entire playing squad for what the club has achieved in the last couple of seasons, but they provide valuable leadership in their senior roles and drive the whole process.
“As everyone here knows, Cockers is Leicester Tigers through and through, he knows what makes this such a special place and he is driven to bring success to the club.
“But we have always been receptive to ideas from outside and the link with Matt since he arrived in Leicester has successfully continued that process.
“The expanded roles within these new contracts will allow them to plan the continued development of the playing side at the club.”
Cockerill made 262 first-team appearances in two spells with Tigers and won 27 caps for England before joined the club’s coaching staff. He became head coach after the departure of Heyneke Meyer in 2009, while former Australia international centre O’Connor arrived at Welford Road in the summer of 2008 as backs coach.
Under their guidance, Tigers ended the 2008/09 season as Guinness Premiership champions and finalists in Europe’s Heineken Cup, and the team retained the Guinness Premiership title in May 2010.
Cockerill said: “Leicester Tigers is a unique club where so many people work very hard to get the team into positions to compete for major honours. This is one of those special jobs in the world of sport and I feel privileged to be in this position.
“Matt and the other coaches and the support staff have been fantastic in my time here and the players deserve great credit for putting in the work in training and then into action on matchdays when it really counts.
“This club has always been very important to me and I’m very passionate about wanting success for Leicester Tigers.”
O’Connor said: “Leicester Tigers stands right at the top of world rugby in terms of reputation and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working here with a great squad of players and I’m very excited about the future.
“Retaining the Guinness Premiership title last season was great reward for everyone at the club but now we are looking forward to defending the title again and the players will relish the challenge of trying to maintain our place as champions of England and compete strongly in Europe.”
