 In his last season with the Dragons de Rouen (1996–97), Laporte served as a player-coach.After he put an end to his playing career in 1997, he took over Lausanne HC, a member of the Swiss second-tier NLB, as head coach and spent three years at the helm.In 2000, he embarked on a three-year stint with Hockey Club Asiago of the Italian elite league Serie A, guiding the team to the Italian championship his first year, to the playoff semifinals his second and a runner-up finish his third year.