After turning Manhattanville into a conference contender in just three seasons, Candice Brown has left for another challenge: rebuilding Vassar.

Brown led the Valiants to an 18-11 record and an appearance in the MAC-Freedom Conference title game last season. The 18 wins were the program's most since 1983-1984 and helped earn Brown conference coach of the year honors. Brown put together consecutive winning seasons at Manhattanville in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 after taking over a program that was 7-18 the year before she arrived. She finished with a record of 38-42 in three years with the Valiants.

Now she'll try to achieve the same turnaround at Vassar, which was 4-21 last season. The Brewers are 28-91 over the last five seasons with just seven conference victories during that stretch. Vassar had no seniors and just one junior last season but expects to return two All-Liberty League selections, in Co-Rookie of the Year and All-League Honorable Mention point guard Brittany Parks and All-League Second Team forward Emily Haeuser. Brown becomes the 10th coach in Vassar women's basketball history.

A native of Arlington, Virginia, Brown graduated from Marymount in 2002 and moved into the coaching ranks immediately at Division II Southern New Hampshire University. After two seasons she joined head coach Bill Finney as an assistant at her alma mater where she was a three year standout as a player. Brown scored 1,130 points for Marymount and led the Saints to the national semifinals in 2002.