The 39-year-old joined the Hatters as a player from Brentford in the summer of 2017, winning promotion from League Two and League One in successive seasons before moving on to Northampton in 2019.
The Irishman returned to the club in 2021 to coach in the academy, initially with the Under-13s up to development squad, before last season moving up to Under-18s Head Coach and adding to an impressive CV by masterminding EFL Youth Alliance South-East Division and Merit Youth League 1 title successes, as well as reaching the FA Youth Cup fourth round.
Now he returns to the senior staff as Set-Piece Coach, and manager Edwards said: “Alan is someone I’ve really grown to get along with since we came in. He’s a really good coach and people talk about the person, but he’s got a lot of respect right the way through the club, from supporters, right the way through Gary and the board, and that’s important.
“He’s going to come in and lead on our set-pieces. We’ll still work as a team, but ultimately it’s my responsibility so if anything goes wrong, that’s down to me, and I need to stress that to everyone. But it’s going to allow us to go into a lot more detail, knowing that that’s such a key part of the game now.
“He’s a really good addition to the staff, and I think it shows that within the club there is a good pathway for our coaches, and former players.
“I think it’s a great thing for motivation for the staff, for the football club in general and it really strengthens us as a coaching unit.
“He has loads of respect. The fans will be great with him. He’s someone who used to take set-pieces, so he’ll immerse himself in it now and they’ll want him to become a specialist in that area.”
McCormack, who has travelled out to Slovenia with the first team for the pre-season training camp, with his replacement with the youth team to be confirmed in the coming days, said: “I had a conversation with the gaffer and he went through what he was thinking and how he wanted to go about the business and structure of it, and asked would I be interested in taking it on?
“It was an absolute no-brainer from the words coming out of his mouth, the decision was made. I think any young, aspiring coach that wants to get to a first-team level, to give them an opportunity in any capacity is something that they are going to take and hopefully they do take. I am very excited that I can take this on.
“The opportunity for me to be around a group of staff who are incredible human beings and unbelievable coaches is one I couldn’t pass up. The atmosphere and culture that’s about the club at the moment is such a high level.
“To be around them and learn from them, and then to have a responsibility with what I’ve been asked to do with the set pieces, is just an incredible feeling.
“From the moment I had the conversation with the manager, I was in. I was looking over work and trying to find as much information as I can in key areas on where we are and where we can improve, and try to get as many one per cents out of people as I can.”
Congratulations, Macca!
