WA coaching journeyman Mark Riley has landed a new job with Gold Coast.

Riley, who was part of the mass exodus from the Carlton coaching staff following the appointment of Mick Malthouse, joins former Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus in the Suns' stable.

"Mark Riley from Carlton, 18 years assistant, replaces Ken Hinkley, 15 years assistant coach, so we think we've moved forward there," McKenna said.

"Shane O'Bree, two years assistant coach as a midfielder, and you replace him with Matty Primus, who has been a senior coach and an assistant for five years. Certainly the coaching ranks have been improved."

Ben Mathews will also take up a development coaching role with the Suns.

Riley started his AFL coaching career as an assistant at Fremantle before moving to Melbourne, where he was a caretaker head coach following the departure of Neale Daniher.