The former Bulldogs champion was highly sought-after since retiring at the end of the season but said on Friday that the appeal of the Demons' young list was the clincher.
West only played four matches in 2008, one of which was the 95-point thumping of Melbourne in round two.
While it wasn’t the Demons’ proudest day, West said he saw signs of potential among the young Melbourne midfield.
“My second last game was against them. They’ve got a very exciting young midfield. They’ve got some good kids coming through," said West.
"Last year they unfortunately had quite a few injuries to some key players. That is one of the main reasons I’m excited about being here – working with those young guys.”
West said he had considered a year away from the game, but was too eager to kick-start his coaching career.
“Coaching is something I’m very interested in so to take a year off, if I was going to go forward in coaching, it probably wasn’t going to do me any good," he said.
"To have a part-time role is probably exactly what I needed for the year straight out of footy.”
West, who will sit in the coach’s box on game day, said it was important to learn the ropes at a different club from the one where he played his entire career.
“I think it is very important. I was at the Bulldogs for 19 years and to see from another set of eyes and another angle. It’s a simple game but clubs do it differently. To get experience at another club is going to benefit me down the track.”
