At the university of Hagen a lot of experience exists in performing Web-based teaching and in implementing tools supporting e-learning. To share this knowledge, (inexperienced) instructors more and more ask for tool-based assistance in designing and administrating e-learning courses. Considering experience from other universities, it becomes obvious that there is in general a lack of a broad system support of tasks to be fulfilled while performing e-learning. This paper proposes an adaptable course assistant that provides the required tool support. It helps in selecting and utilizing Internet and Web technology, respectively. The knowledge of how to run a virtual course is modeled by means of course templates, which may be adopted to special needs. Before introducing the assistant, the changing role of instructors in distance education is discussed, as well as the impact on the requirements of tool support with respect to designing and administrating a course. (Contains 13 references.) (Author)