Dave McAuliffe finished his 11th season as an MSU assistant hockey coach Thursday. Soon afterward, he found out he won't be around for a 12th year.

Head coach Rick Comley decided against renewing McAuliffe's contract for next season. McAuliffe, an East Lansing native, played for MSU from 1986-90 and has been an assistant since 1992.

"I understand the nature of the business," McAuliffe, 37, said in a released statement. "I appreciate working with the Michigan State program the last 11 years, and I'm proud of the job I have done here.

"From my days as a player to serving as an assistant coach, the Spartan hockey program will always be part of me."

Brian Renfrew, an assistant at Northern Michigan, will fill the coaching vacancy for MSU.

Tom Newton, MSU's other full-time assistant, was retained by Comley. Next season will be his 14th with MSU.

Comley stressed several times that the move to let McAuliffe go was not based on his performance or ability. Rather, it's a step toward tailoring the program to Comley's liking.

When Comley took over for Ron Mason as MSU's head coach last spring, it was under the pretense that he would keep incumbents McAuliffe and Newton on his staff for at least one season.

But he was given freedom to make any changes he saw fit after the year.

"It's very unusual for a coach to come in and not bring anyone with him," Comley said. "It was very difficult for me.

"It's nothing that Dave did. I think he's skilled, he's qualified, he's loyal, he's done a great job here. I have nothing but good things to say about him and high recommendations to give. I think he was hurt by it, but he handled it with unbelievable class and dignity.

"He and Ron and Tom were a good team. I'm just going to create a different team."

McAuliffe specialized in coaching defensemen at MSU. To fill the void, Comley plans to work more closely with the Spartan blueliners, and he will seek a capable volunteer assistant coach, possibly former MSU forward Damon Whitten.

Renfrew will concentrate on goaltenders, starting immediately. He spent two seasons at Northern - including one during Comley's tenure in Marquette - after working two years as an assistant with Alaska-Fairbanks. He played goalie at Western Michigan in the early 1990s.

Newton will again work with the team's forwards.