Irvine, former boss at Preston North End and assistant to David Moyes at Everton, was appointed as Pepe Mel's replacement at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
The 55-year-old may have a difficult task on his hands to keep West Brom in the Premier League after they narrowly avoided relegation from the top flight last season.
And, while the Scot - who left his role as Everton's academy manager to take over at West Brom - is relishing the prospect of a return to first-team coaching, he is well aware of the need for reinforcements at the Midlands club.
"I'm absolutely delighted to get the job," Irvine told West Brom's official website.
"I've got a great deal of respect for the club right the way from the first team through to the academy.
"The situation at this club is similar to what I went through at Everton when I went there with David (Moyes).
"It is run very sensibly and, as a result of that, any head coach coming in has got a great chance of doing a good job.
"A number of the players who have had success in the Premier League with the club are still here.
"But it's a small squad at this moment in time and, clearly, the first job is going to have to be to get some more players in."
