The job - replacing Tony Brown, who is moving to the Highlanders - was advertised last week and applicants have until the end of the month to throw their hat in the ring.
The job is not solely about coaching the Otago ITM Cup team. It also includes a director of coaching role to lead the development and implementation of Otago's overall coaching strategy across all teams.
The job is for someone who has worked with a Super team or first-class team for at least five years, although coaches with significant club and representative experience would be considered.
Brown has done the job for three years and in that time he has been assisted by Phil Young.
When contacted yesterday, Young said the job was one he would definitely look at but he was undecided about whether he would apply for the position.
''Otago rugby is in my veins and I love the environment. In the last three years there has been some really good progress made and I would want to see how it unfolds.
''Of all the teams I have coached this would be the one, with a few tweaks here and there, which has the most potential.''
Young has previously coached Southland and been an assistant coach for the Highlanders but has never coached Otago. He also works for the union as a resource coach.
Former Otago assistant coach Bruce Carvell said business commitments meant he was unable to apply for the job. He assisted Steve Martin for two years until 2009 and also coached other Otago sides.
North Otago coach Mike Mullins confirmed he intended to apply for the position.
''I do enjoy the coaching side of things and would definitely be interested in the position,'' Mullins said.
''I would enjoy the role of working with other coaches. It is always a challenge talking to other coaches and looking at the other options. But for me rugby is a simple game and it is just about whether you can execute it properly.''
Former Hawkes Bay and Highlanders assistant coach Peter Russell said he would not be applying for the job.
Russell had coached Newcastle in England for a couple of years but had returned to New Zealand and was back living in Hawkes Bay.
But with a new baby arrived, Russell said the position was not one he was chasing.
Former Otago lock and University club director of coaching Brendon Timmins declined to comment on whether he would apply for the job.
Former All Black and former Pirates coach Paul Miller said it was not a position he was looking at.
He had enjoyed coaching the King's High School First XV this year and felt it was not a role he was prepared to do at this stage.
Otago Boys' High School first XV coach Ryan Martin said working with the New Zealand Barbarians school side over the past couple of weeks had really opened his eyes to the next level.
''Prior to that I would have said no. But I have just spent two and a-half weeks in a camp like an ITM Cup side, which we wanted for the guys. They went to the next level and I would feel a lot more comfortable at that level now,'' Martin said.
''That has given me a lot more confidence in terms of what is expected.''
Martin (34) said it was a year or two too soon for him but he wanted to be a professional coach.
In a boost to his coaching career, Martin has been invited to the first New Zealand Colts camp in December to observe and watch coaches.
Taieri coach Jason Macdonald could not be contacted but is one of the front-runners for the job although he has only coached Taieri for two years.
Other contenders could be former Highlanders assistant coach Murray Roulston and former Bay of Plenty coach Andre Bell.
