Michael Klinger has stepped down as Melbourne Renegades coach after an unsuccessful two seasons to take up a role as the head of male cricket at New South Wales.

Klinger, 40, had a year to run on his three-year contract with the Renegades after being appointed to the role just prior to the 2019-20 season when BBL08 title-winning coach Andrew McDonald vacated the position to become Australia's assistant coach.

Klinger's two years at the helm of the Renegades, his first experience as a senior coach, were disastrous with the club winning just seven of 28 games and finishing last on the BBL table in both seasons.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity that I was given by the Melbourne Renegades. I'd like to thank everyone at the Renegades for their continued support throughout," Klinger said.

"Although the seasons didn't go to plan, I thoroughly enjoyed my time as head coach and can see a bright future in the coming seasons with such a young and talented group. I wish them all the best for the future.

"My new role as Head of Men's Cricket with CNSW is an extremely exciting position. I'm looking forward to this great opportunity working with Greg Mail and their senior squads, pathways, and Big Bash programs."

Renegades general manager David Lever said the club was supportive of Klinger's move.

"On behalf of everyone at the club I'd like to extend our thanks and best wishes to Michael in his new role in New South Wales," Lever said. "Maxy's dedication to the role, his composure, and broader role as an ambassador for the Renegades has been exemplary.

"Despite injuries and unavailability of key players, limited preparation time in his first season, and an extended period on the road in his second season, Maxy never looked for excuses and confronted each challenge with the same commitment, character, and class that made him such an excellent player for so long.

"We thank Michael for his service and outstanding leadership and wish him and his family all the best for their new opportunity."

The Renegades will now begin searching for a new coach for the second time in three years.

At New South Wales, Klinger will oversee the men's program working alongside Leah Poulton, NSW's head of female cricket, and reporting to head of cricket Greg Mail.

"We are delighted to have a person of Max's calibre joining our team," Mail said. "He is a universally respected figure in Australian cricket and brings experience across a wide range of high-performance environments and across all formats of the game.

"We'd like to thank Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades for releasing Michael from the remainder of his contract so that he could pursue this opportunity that we believe will benefit not just CNSW, but Australian cricket as a whole."