SCHENECTADY — Coming off the program’s best finish ever in ECAC Hockey, Union College assistant hokey coach Billy Riga has resigned to take a similar position with ECACH rival Quinnipiac.

Riga replaces Scott Robson, who left Quinnipiac earlier this month to take an assistant coaching pos­ition at Western Michigan.

Riga was hired by Union in 2003, shortly after Nate Leaman was named the Dutchmen’s head coach.

“I’m very happy for Billy for the opportunity to experience something new in his career,” Leaman said Monday. “He worked hand-in-hand in everything we did here as a staff. We basically worked three guys together. He did some of the recruiting as well.”

Riga, who was unavailable for comment, played college hockey at UMass-Lowell. He came to Union after a seven-year stint with the Boston Junior Bruins, where he served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, as well as a strength coach and video coordinator.

Leaman is in the process of interviewing candidates to join him and associate head coach Rick Bennett. The timing of Riga’s departure may not be the best, with the players set to begin classes Sept. 9. The first practice will be Oct. 4.

“We’d love to have something done by then [Sept. 9],” Leaman said. “The timing isn’t great. That’s the way it is. I think every coach has a game plan for these situations mapped out ahead of time, anyhow. Billy really dedicated a lot of his five years of hard work to our

program, and I know he’ll always be looking at our program with great interest. We’re happy for him, and we’re looking for a person who can help us get the program to the next level.”

It has been a busy offseason for ECACH teams looking for assistant coaches. Three other schools have hired new assistants.

Scott Sterling, a former Brown goalie, returned to his alma mater to replace Danny Brooks, who went to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Colgate’s Andrew Dickson left for a pro scouting job with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and former Raiders goalie Jason Lefevre took over for him. Brent Brekke left Cornell for Miami (Ohio), and ex-Big Red player Casey Jones came in and was named associate head coach.