The 2010 Super 14 season will be Colin Cooper's last as coach of the Hurricanes.

Cooper will leave the Wellington-based franchise at the end of May to take up the vacant coaching position at provincial side Taranaki after signing a two-year deal to replace Adrian Kennedy, who resigned last month.

Taranaki have finished eighth in the Air New Zealand Cup in the past two years under Kennedy.

Cooper revealed he had turned down lucrative job offers from clubs in Britain to return to the province he played for and then coached between 1999 and 2001.

"Taranaki has always been home to me and I have been away from my family for the last nine years, which has been hard on them and on me," he said.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of being involved with the Hurricanes franchise and still have plenty left to achieve during the 2010 campaign.

"By taking up this position with Taranaki I am able to remain in the region and continue to help develop players for the franchise. It is an exciting challenge for me and one I am very much looking forward to."

Cooper signalled earlier in the year that 2010 would be his last with the franchise and Hurricanes chief executive Greg Peters said the search would now begin for a replacement.

Hawke's Bay coach Peter Russell - also an assistant coach at the Highlanders - is a strong contender to step up in 2011.

New Zealand Under 20s and Manawatu coach Dave Rennie and Wellington's Jamie Joseph are other options from within the region.