Wigan chairman Dave Whelan appointed Hutchings, who will move up from his role as assistant manager under Jewell.
Whelan said: “He’s one of the best and most knowledgable coaches in the Premiership.
“Chris has been with us for the last six years overseeing the revolution on the playing side that has occured here and he has experienced all the successes first hand.
“He and Paul worked very closely together and I know how highly Paul regarded him both as a motivator and as a coach.
“I also feel it is very important to have someone who understands this club, so that we can have continuity and start planning straight away for next season.
“There will be no delays now, and Chris can start working tomorrow, in the manager’s chair.
“I feel Chris is the right person to progress the club into the next era.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him as manager and give him my assurance that he will have my full and total backing as we seek to stay in the Premiership for a fourth season and keep establishing this club in the best league in the world.
“He is a very, very capable manager. It didn’t work out for him at Bradford but he has my full support and the support of the board and I will supply him with the funds.
“It’s always a gamble when you go into the market for a manager. I’ve appointed about half a dozen and we have had a couple of good ones and some failures.
“I know Chris Hutchings and I know how good he is. I’ve every confidence he’ll push us forward.
“There’s going to be a few players going and a few coming. We haven’t had a good season – we have had bad luck and bad decisions and it is has put Paul Jewell down.”
