Long-time assistant coach Les Kiss says he may yet stay at the NSW Waratahs next season even if, as expected, he is overlooked for the top job.

The ambitious Kiss was believed to be among a host of key personnel ready to walk out on the Waratahs if he failed to win the role as Ewen McKenzie's successor.

But the former rugby league international has rebounded from the disappointment of missing out on a second interview and may stick around in 2009 - if asked.

"I wouldn't be unhappy if I didn't get the head coaching role," Kiss said before the Waratahs set off for their vital two-match tour of South Africa on Thursday.

"Obviously I want it and feel like I can do the job, but there's a process in place and there's been a good process in place.

"I'm happy with how it's all gone along and, if things were to evolve that there was a head coach put on that wasn't me, I'd be happy to talk further about staying. No problems."

Kiss said the contracts of most of the back-room staff, including team managers, doctors, physios and kicking and strength and conditioning coaches, ended this month at the completion of the Super 14 season and everyone was eagerly awaiting the board's decision on McKenzie's successor.

The job is likely to go to either former Wallabies attack coach Scott Johnson or ex-Australian under-21s coach Chris Hickey.

"Once the decision's made, then everyone gets a bit of clarity about where they stand for the future," Kiss said.

"So hopefully when that decision is made over the next week or two, everyone can start to make some decisions about whether they stay and hopefully I think a lot of people would still like to be in the organisation."

With attack coach Todd Louden having already confirmed he is leaving the Waratahs for the Ricoh club in Japan, NSW chief executive Jim L'Estrange said he was keen to retain Kiss's services.

The respected defence coach has been an unsung hero for the Tahs since joining the franchise in 2003.

Under Kiss's tutelage, NSW boasted the competition's best defence in 2005, when the Waratahs made their only Super rugby final, and again in 2006, when they lost in the semi-finals.

This year, the Waratahs rank second in defence behind only the table-topping Crusaders and are conceding an average of just 14 points a game.

"In the time I've been here, I've been under Bob Dwyer and Ewen McKenzie. It's been an extreme learning curve for me and it's been fantastic," Kiss said.

"I think it's made me a better coach overall and I've learned a lot of stuff about the big business of coaching.

"So, in a nutshell, the time I've spent here has probably just sort of moulded me and put me in the right place to be confident about going forward."

While he may stay with the Waratahs, Kiss admitted he was exploring other job options.

"Obviously with the marketplace as it is and with the situation as it is, you're looking around," he said.

"At this stage, it's at a non-aggressive level and I'm just waiting to see how things pan out here."

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