HOLLIS – The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has been warned.

The state will take a hit in its toll collections this winter. Cole Etten is easing off on the EZ-Pass.

Etten, 26, will replace Mike Soucy as boys basketball coach at Hollis Brookline High School. Living in Manchester and teaching in elementary school in Hollis, Soucy will not be making his daily winter commute to-and-from Bishop Brady High School, where he enjoyed three successful seasons as head coach there.

“I am extremely excited to be back home for a lot of reasons,” said Etten.

“I truly enjoyed my time there. And I learned a lot as a coach.”

Etten also won – with a Division II state title in 2015 and a return trip to the state Final Four in 2016.

But when Soucy moved on to become the athletic director at Merrimack High School, Etten knew exactly where he wanted to be.

“Coach Soucy did a tremendous job in his 10 years at Hollis Brookline. He built the program to where it is today,” said Etten.

“I’m proud to have played for Coach Soucy. He was a great mentor for me. I hope I can pick up where he left off.”

Of course, the name Etten is synonymous with basketball at Hollis Brookline. Cole is one of three hoop-playing brothers to compete for the Cavaliers.

Both Zach (Babson) and Ben (WPI) went on to play college ball.

Cole graduated from UNH. A 2009 HB grad, he began his coaching career as the Cavaliers’ JV coach before heading to Brady.

“There are a lot of reasons that I’m back,” said Etten. “I’ve received incredible supoort from the administration and (Athletic Director) Rhon Rupp,” said Etten. “The teachers and entire faculty do a tremendous job there. I’m just excited to be back home.

“I have to evaluate where the program is at, where we want it to go. You have to get into those youth programs, keep the connection going between the high school and youth levels. It’s important. You need to make sure kids are excited about the program.”