Bristol Rugby have announced the appointment of Pat Lam as the club's new head coach.
The 48-year-old, who has been at the helm of Connacht since 2013, will officially take charge of the outfit in June ahead of the 2017-18 season.
Lam has experience coaching in the Premiership, having won the title with Newcastle Falcons in the 1997-98 campaign.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to coach and lead Bristol Rugby - a proud club with history, tradition and a bright future ahead," Lam told the club's official website. "What appeals to me most after speaking to Steve Lansdown and [chairman] Chris Booy is their passion, vision and long term commitment to inspire fellow Bristolians worldwide through rugby success on and off the field.
"As with my decision to help Connacht Rugby four years ago, my coaching philosophy is very much aligned to assisting them in making Bristol Rugby a club where the Bristol community can be inspired and Bristol players have a genuine pathway to represent England by the quality of our rugby programme.
"I'm committed to Bristol irrespective as to what happens in the short-term – everything is in place for the club to be a force in the future and I'm honoured to be invited to join the journey."
Chairman Booy added: "Pat was the outstanding candidate in our search for a new Head Coach and impressed the board with his coaching ability, experience and enthusiasm for the task ahead. We're very pleased to appoint an individual of his quality.
"The board has been patient in our approach to ensure we have the right man to take this Club forward in the long term. Pat has transformed a Connacht team into Pro12 champions and we believe he can build a squad, a culture and an environment that can be successful in the Aviva Premiership.
"Mark Tainton and the existing coaching set-up will continue in their roles with the target of securing our Aviva Premiership survival. They have done an excellent job so far in instilling some real fight and positivity into the players and we are confident that Mark has the ability to keep Bristol in the top flight."
Lam's coaching career has taken him to Auckland, where he spent five years, and Blues Super Rugby for a four-year spell.
