Rebels President and General Manager Brent Sutter announced the news Tuesday.
Konowalchuk, a longtime NHL forward, joins Red Deer after spending the past three seasons as a professional scout with the New York Rangers, and returns to the WHL after leading the Seattle Thunderbirds to the 2017 WHL Championship.
The Salt Lake City, Utah product spent six seasons as bench boss in the Emerald City, compiling a 219-176-22-15 record. His Thunderbirds made back-to-back appearances in the WHL Championship series during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 WHL seasons.
He transitioned back to the NHL in the summer of 2017, spending one season as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks.