The Reds have struggled since winning the title in 2011, finishing 13th, 13th and 15th the past three seasons.

Stiles has 11 years of coaching experience, including six seasons in Super Rugby and two at the helm of National Rugby Championship side Brisbane City, which claimed back-to-back titles in the first two years of competition.

QRU’s Executive General Manager – Reds, Daniel Herbert said:

“The panel and Board considered a number of strong candidates and ultimately determined Nick to have the right attributes to take this group forward.

“He is a passionate Queenslander who understands the DNA of Queensland Rugby.

“He is an experienced coach who has proven to be technically astute and has a strong record of developing players both young and old.

“Nick is a good leader, who has turned the Reds set pieces into one of the more statistically dominant in Super Rugby.”

Stiles began his coaching career immediately after retiring from playing, taking on the role of head coach with University of Queensland in Premier Grade in 2006.

The current season is his 11th as a professional coach, during which time he has worked in Japan’s Top League, Super Rugby and the National Rugby Championship.

He also played all of his representative Rugby in Queensland, earning 96 caps for the Reds from 1998 to 2005 and captained the side on eight occasions.

He represented Australia 12 times, winning a British & Irish Lions series, the Tri Nations series and the Bledisloe Cup in 2001.

“I’m incredibly proud and honoured to get the opportunity to lead the Reds into the future. Ballymore is like a second home to me,” Stiles said.

“We’ve got an exciting group of players with a lot of potential and some great staff and we are all highly motivated to return the Reds to success.”