The Crusaders announced his reappointment on Wednesday after completing their end-of-season review.
Penney said he was excited and humbled to have the opportunity to continue working with the organisation and the team.
"This group is on the cusp of doing something pretty special again, and I'm rapt to be a part of it."
Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said there was a constant theme – love – that emerged during the review process.
"Rob uses the term love a lot; he loves this place, loves the environment and loves the players. He comes from this place of deep care, and all the players feel that.
"The players talked about how much he cared for them, and how he genuinely tried to do the best that he could for them."
Penney said that attitude was ingrained in him.
"I spent a long time here as a player before the Crusaders existed, and I love the red and black.
"The people here make it easy to care because they care. Everyone is invested, and then the players turn up and top it off with their commitment and dedication, it's an honour to play a little part in it."
The 2025 season was a complete contrast to the disappointments of 2024, and Penney said he was grateful for the support of the organisation.
"I wouldn't have survived unless those people had been there. They were linked with everything that was happening and understood the challenges under some brutal, oppressive pressure at times.
"The outcome of winning the year after was an awesome reward for all those people."
Penney said when the team went into the playoffs, they were confident about the challenge ahead.
"I've said several times, David [Havili-captain] has done a great job of pulling the guys together and we had a deep focus. It was going to be a good side that was going to beat us."
Penney said he would have his same coaching team for 2026, and that would allow them to start on a different platform.
"It takes time to build the relationships, continuity and synergy that you need, and we're getting there. This is going to be a special year for those reasons.
"The starting position that we're at in 2026 is ahead of where we were in 2025. David Havili is back at the helm, and he'll want to go one step further. What that looks like will be interesting.
"It'll be partly in our game, partly what we're doing off the field. But we've got better in us, and the excitement is in finding where those elements are collectively working to achieve that.
"Hopefully, that'll manifest itself in some unreal performances on the grass. And it will all be done under a roof, at home in front of our supporters."