WEST Coast ruckman Dean Cox will create history next season - and it won't be confined to setting a new Eagles games record.

The decorated big man will be the Eagles' first ever playing coach.

He is officially West Coast's ruck coach for next season, which could be a swan song for the six-time All-Australian and 2006 Eagles premiership player.

Cox, 32, has notched up 273 games to sit on the brink of passing another Eagles great Glen Jakovich's club-record 276.

The appointment of Cox to new coach Adam Simpson's support team is a clear indication of a career path beyond his playing days.

He replaces former Essendon and Fremantle big man Simon Eastaugh, who headed back to the Dockers after he resigned in September.

Cox is likely to step straight into a non-playing coaching position when he finally calls time on a decorated career that started as a rookie draft selection 13 years ago.

He transformed modern ruck play with his gut-running and ability to win possessions as effectively an extra midfielder.

If Cox pulls the curtain on his accomplished career at the end of next season he could be just short of 300 games.

If he managed every home-and-away game and the Eagles played in all four finals available, the popular onballer would be on 299 appearances at the end of September.

He has already agreed to play next season on a one-year contract and then make any decision on his future.

Cox has played his past three seasons on one-year deals.

media_camera Eagles champ Dean Cox rucks against Adelaide's Sam Jacobs.

The appointment of Cox as a playing coach is unique at West Coast and in similar mould to a strategy used at new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney with former Port Power premiership star Dean Brogan finishing his playing days as a specialist ruck mentor.

Simpson played out his last five seasons of his accomplished 307-game career as midfield coach at North Melbourne while also captaining of the Roos.

Simpson worked closely with then Roos coach Dean Laidley on stoppage and clearance drills and strategy in match preparation and on match days.

Cox will work in tandem with Eagles ruckmen Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett as well as stoppage and clearances planning and game-day implementation with new midfield coach Brady Rawlings.

Cox completes a new-look Eagles coaching team under Simpson, along with Rawlings and former Carlton and Geelong defender Adrian Hickmott to handle the backline.

Other former West Coast players Adam Selwood and Jaymie Graham move into development roles.

Another former North Melbourne utility Daniel Pratt was also handed a development job, with former Fremantle ruckman Justin Longmuir surviving the previous coaching administration as forward line specialist.