With the departure of former assistant coach Dan Evans to Ohio Dominican University, the Hillsdale College men’s basketball coaching staff has undergone a few changes.

Longtime assistant coach Brian "Pistol Pete" McCauley remains as assistant coach, while Luke Laser, who had served for three seasons as a part-time assistant coach, has been promoted to a full-time assistant coach position.

Taking Laser’s spot is 2013 Hillsdale College graduate Ryan Choiniere, who began his coaching tenure in June of 2013.

Head coach John Tharp said the addition of Choiniere is a natural fit in the updated coaching staff.

"Ryan has been with us for five years, and in that time, his basketball knowledge really grew and matured," Tharp said. "He became a real student of the game. He understood our system extremely well and I am very confident in his ability to convey that to our players in his role as assistant coach."

Evans left the staff last month to become the new head coach at GLIAC rival Ohio Dominican University. He is the sixth man to become a head coach at a college program after serving as an assistant under Tharp.

"Pistol Pete has been with me since my days at Lawrence," Tharp said. "Luke Laser has shown tremendous growth in his transition from a player to a coach. I’ve been fortunate to have great assistant coaches with me in the past, and nothing about that has changed going forward. Our goals of recruiting great kids, helping them to get a great education at Hillsdale while competing for championships has not, and will not change."

Laser was an All-State player at Hillsdale High School before going to play at Saginaw Valley State for two seasons. He then transferred to Hillsdale College when Tharp became the head coach prior to the 2007-08 season. Laser was a starting forward for the Chargers for two seasons and helped lead the team to its first GLIAC championship game appearance in 15 years in 2010.

Choiniere graduated from Hillsdale College in May 2013 with a degree in sport management. He was a member of the GLIAC All-Academic Team three times, and has also worked in the marketing department at the college.

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