Rochester United is losing a key piece of its coaching staff to a new OAA rival.

Zach Lietz, an assistant coach who helped Rochester United capture back-to-back MHSAA Division 2 regional championships, has been hired as head coach of the newly formed Lake Orion-Oxford co-op hockey program. The Oakland Press reported the hiring on July 22.

Lietz spent three seasons on Tucker Penning's staff at Rochester United, where the team compiled a 42-14-2 record. Now he'll build a program from scratch in the same league.

"During my time at Rochester United, I enjoyed helping turn that program around to what it is now, but ultimately my goal was to be on the bench for Lake Orion and be a part of the community there," Lietz told the Oakland Press.

A Lake Orion native, Lietz moved back to the area with his wife in 2021. He played hockey at Farmington High School, graduating in 2011, and co-founded Central Michigan's ACHA Division 3 men's hockey program. He later worked with goaltenders at Detroit Compuware alongside his father Gordie and brother Anthony before serving as an assistant at Farmington United.

The co-op takes shape

Oxford's athletic department confirmed the partnership with Lake Orion on April 17. Oxford players had previously competed as part of the North Oakland Eagles co-op. Lake Orion had been one of the few public schools in Michigan operating a standalone hockey program.

Lietz replaces Nick Badder, a Troy Athens graduate who coached Romeo to three regional titles and a Division 2 state championship in 2016 before taking the Lake Orion job prior to the 2023-24 season.

Rochester connection stays strong

Penning, who remains Rochester United's head coach, praised his former assistant in the Oakland Press report. He called Lietz "a tremendous coach, friend and person" and predicted he would build Lake Orion-Oxford into an OAA contender.

The two programs already have a January home game scheduled at Detroit Skating Club. Lietz acknowledged the matchup carries extra weight.

"We have a home game scheduled in January at DSC. So I'm sure that's circled on my calendar, I'm sure it's circled on theirs," he said.

Lake Orion-Oxford will compete in the OAA alongside Rochester United, Clarkston, Birmingham, and Rochester Adams beginning with the 2026-27 winter season.