Tom Mooney, his grandfather, played for Queensland in 1919 and Paul, his father, toured New Zealand as hooker with the 1955 Wallabies and helped establish the Queensland Junior Rugby Union.
His wife, Stephanie, grew up in Taranaki and has lived in Queensland for 15 years.
Sons Tom (8) and Ben (5) have become the fourth generation of the family playing rugby.
Phil Mooney (44) is a student of the game and is excited about joining a union like Otago with such a proud history.
"I have read about the deeds of Vic Cavanagh, Laurie Mains and Gordon Hunter," Mooney told the Otago Daily Times from Brisbane yesterday.
He has not been put off by Otago's disappointing record over recent years and is confident that he can lift the performance.
"If I was not positive about the challenge, I shouldn't be doing it," he said.
"I know there will be a lot of hard work needed but there are a lot of good people in Otago who will help."
His objectives are clear.
"I want to lift Otago's standing in the Air New Zealand Cup and help grassroots rugby, at club level that underpins the professional game," he said.
Mooney does not consider he is stepping down to a lower level of rugby after coaching the Queensland Reds in the Super 14 for the past three years.
"That is an international competition but I admire the depth of talent there is in New Zealand rugby," he said.
He rates the Air New Zealand Cup alongside South Africa's Currie Cup, as two of the most significant domestic rugby competitions in the world.
During his time with the Queensland Reds Mooney encouraged an expansive style of game.
"I had a talented group of young backs and the Elvs (experimental law variations) enabled us to play unstructured rugby,"he said.
"I realise that Brisbane has a different climate to Dunedin and I must adapt the style of game to the conditions. The basics of the game must be done first."
Since his release from the Reds, Mooney has been hired as a skills coach with the Brisbane Broncos league team for pre-season training.
It will be part of his role to instruct the coaches of junior Otago teams, so that everyone plays the same brand of rugby
Otago Rugby's chief executive, Richard Reid, said that part of Mooney's role would be to increase the skills of local coaches and bring them into the modern era.
"Club coaches could come into the mix, as well, but it will not be compulsory for them," Reid said.
He emphasised that the role of the Otago coach had changed and he would no longer be involved with the Highlanders.
"We want to look to our future and develop more quality coaches in the region," Reid said.
Mooney has an initial two-year appointment, which could be renewed if results justify an extension.
Mooney comes from a state that has always had continuity within its coaching system.
Bob Templeton coached the state team for 25 years and John Connelly for 13 years.
"It is good for players to have that continuity, so that everything is stable and consistent," Mooney said.
An assistant coach to work with Mooney will be appointed early next year.
Likely candidates are Mike Moeahu and David Latta, who were both short-listed for the top job.
The new coach
Phil Mooney fact file
Age: 44.
Family: Stephanie (wife), sons Tom (8), Paul (5).
Playing position: First five-eighth or fullback.
Playing record: Queensland Schools, Queensland under-21, Queensland squad, Queensland B.
Club: Wests (played 200 premier games).
Coaching record: Australia A (2008), Australian under-19 (2006-07), Queensland under-19 (2001-07); Queensland Reds (2007-09).
