The two-time Bloods premiership player will replace Paul Dirago at the helm following the latter’s decision to step down on Monday night, citing personal reasons.

Sargeant, 35, said he was honoured to lead the Hampden league club.

“Terang Mortlake is a real passion of mine,” he said.

“If I wasn’t coaching I’d be doing some sort of role.”

Sargeant had earmarked a return to coaching ranks – he spent two seasons at Warrnambool and District league club Old Collegians – in 12 months’ time.

But the Terang Mortlake role fast-tracked his plans.

“Opportunities don’t really arise that often, especially not to coach your home club, and when there is an opportunity like that it’s too hard to refuse,” Sargeant said.

“It is something I am pretty excited about.

“I was in Warrnambool but in August this year I actually moved back to Noorat, so all the stars aligned a little bit there.

“Moving back home has made it a lot easier.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it if I was still living in Warrnambool.”

Sargeant, who has played sporadically over the past three years, will be a non-playing coach.

Forward Chris Bant has committed as his assistant and Nathan Jones and Matt Schrama will provide bench support.

“It is the way of the future these days, a lot of clubs are going the non-playing role,” Sargeant said.

“It is just a lot easier to control.

“It’s very hard for a playing coach, you’ve got to really have the right people on the sidelines.”

Sargeant, who had playing stints in Western Australia and Northern Territory, believes his coaching apprenticeship with the Warriors in 2011-12 will prove beneficial at the Bloods.

“Having that experience of success at Old Collegians, making a grand final and only being 11 or 12 points off winning one (is helpful) and the next year we probably weren’t as strong as well, so I have had the best of both worlds in that sense,” he said.