Nilsson coached the men's coxless four and the men's double sculls combination of Rob Waddell and Nathan Cohen at last month's Olympics in Beijing, where both crews finished out of the medals.

 

Nilsson's move to England follows the appointment of Dick Tonks as Rowing New Zealand's (RNZ) head coach.

 

The Cambridge University Boat Club has a strong history of New Zealand coaches, with Duncan Holland holding down the chief coaching position until his departure this year while the late Harry Mahon also previously held the role.

 

Nilsson, who rowed for New Zealand at the 1972 Olympics, has previously had a spell as assistant coach of Oxford University.

 

He had been with RNZ for four years.

 

Nilsson coached the New Zealand men's coxless four of Hamish Bond, Eric Murray, James Dallinger and Carl Meyer to gold at the World Championships in Germany last year, and got the Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) job ahead of over 60 candidates.

 

He will start his new role next Monday.

 

Nilsson said: “I am hugely honoured to have been appointed by the CUBC selection panel.

 

"I'm really looking forward to meeting the squad next week and I look forward to the challenge of leading the CUBC.”

 

Henry Pelly, the incoming CUBC president, said: “Chris Nilsson’s track record speaks for itself.

 

"We are all looking forward to working with him in establishing the CUBC as the best rowing club in the world for developing elite athletes.

 

"He will have the full confidence of the squad as we get ready to take on Oxford in the 2009 Boat Race.”

 

Nilsson becomes the second high-profile departure from RNZ's ranks in just over a month after high performance manager Andrew Matheson was appointed national high performance director for Rowing Australia.