Vassar College Athletics

Under the guidance of head coach Candice Signor-Brown, the Vassar women's basketball team had one of the best years in program history during the 2018-19 season. The Brewers reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history and had a program-best 16-game winning streak. The team's 21 wins was the second-most in school history as well. Signor-Brown received Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year for the third time and senior Maddie Leong was named Vassar's first Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. The season also saw Sophie Nick earn All-American honors. 

In 2017-18, the Brewers reached the Liberty League semifinals after a 17-10 overall record and an 11-7 mark in conference play. Senior Ariella Rosenthal was named All-Liberty League for the third straight season, while sophomore Sophie Nick earned All-Liberty League First Team honors.

Signor-Brown started 2015-16 season as one of the winningest coaches in program history, with an 99-61 (.596) overall record and 56-37 (.602) mark within the Liberty League. She is the only coach in school history with a winning career record after completely rebuilding the Vassar program during her six years leading the program.

Despite the 12-13 season during the 2014-15 season, Brown's team had some bright spots including one of two unianimous Liberty League First Team players in Caitlin Drakeley. Also, Brown coached yet another Liberty League Rookie of the Year, as Ariella Rosenthal earned that honor for her play. VC won four straight games to end the campaign, and also defeated conference champion Skidmore by 21 points at home. 
 
The 2013-14 campaign was one of the best in program history, as the team won its third Liberty League title in four seasons and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the first time ever thanks to a win over Williams College. Vassar also set the program record for wins in a season with 23.
 
During the 2012-13 season, Brown helped lead the Brewers to a regular season Liberty League title, finishing with a 13-3 regular season mark, while setting the program record to that point for wins in a season with 21. She was named Liberty League Coach of the Year for the second time. That season, Brown coached three All-League players, including the Liberty League and ECAC Upstate Regional Player of the Year and Division III All-American, Cydni Matusoka. Vassar led the Liberty League in six team statistical categories on the year, including scoring offense with nearly 70 points per game.

The 2011-12 campaign saw Vassar win 10 games within the conference for the first time in program history, posting a 10-6 record in the Liberty League. Brown helped guide the Brewers through the conference tournament for the second consecutive season, picking up the school's second Liberty League title and earning them another spot in the NCAA Tournament. Brewers again led the Liberty League in points per game.

In the 2010-11 season, Brown led the Brewers to the Liberty League Championship and NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history. Brown was recognized for her team’s success by being named the Liberty League Coach of the Year and D3hoops.com All-East Coach of the Year. Vassar’s eight Liberty League wins were the most since the Brewers joined the league. With a roster of only eight players, and just one senior, Vassar’s 14 wins were the most since the 2000-01 season and are the third highest total in program history since joining the Division III ranks in 1980-81.
 
In the 2009-10 season, Brown's first at Vassar, she led the Brewers to their best overall record since 2001-02 and matched their best league record since 2000-01. The five league wins equaled the number of league wins accumulated by Vassar over the past four seasons combined.

Brown joined Vassar after turning around the Manhattanville College women’s basketball program in three seasons, taking a team that won nine games her first year to 18 wins in her final year leading the program. Prior to taking over, Manhattanville only have two winning seasons during the previous 10 seasons.

In 2008-09, Brown led Manhattanville to an 18-11 record and second place finish in the Freedom Conference. Brown was named the Freedom Conference Coach of the Year, leading the Valiants to a 12-4 conference record and first ever appearance in the Freedom Conference Tournament championship game. The 18 wins are tied for the fourth-most in a single season at Manhattanville program history and it was the most wins by a Valiant squad in a quarter century, since the 1983-84 team won 19.

In 2007-08, her second season at Manhattanville, Brown led the team to its first winning record since 2003-04 with a 13-12 mark. After a season-opening loss, the team strung together four consecutive wins, the program’s longest winning streak in three years and the best start to a season since 1983-84.

In her first season at Manhattanville in 2007-07, Brown began to mold a very young Valiant team to play a hard-working, defensive style that would give trouble to some of the top teams in the Skyline Conference. This tenacity paid off, as her team picked up one of the program’s signature wins by upsetting seven-time league champion Mount St. Mary on the road on December 6, 2006.

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 there, she joined legendary head coach Bill Finney as an assistant coach at her alma mater.

At Marymount, Brown helped the program to a 37-19 record, including the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2005-06.

Brown has also worked several camps and is still active on the camp circuit. Brown has worked camps at Bentley College, Marymount, and the prestigious Point Guard College.

As a player, Brown had a much decorated career for Marymount, leading the Saints to the only Final Four appearance in program history as a senior in 2001-02, this after leading them to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 the season prior. Brown graduated with her name appearing frequently throughout the school’s record books, while also earning a pair of First Team All-America honors, two First Team All-Capital Athletic Conference awards, and two Capital Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete awards. In 2001-02, she was also a finalist for the Jostens National Player of the Year award.

In three seasons with Marymount, Brown finished with 1,130 points, ninth in school history. It was her ability as an all-around player though – she ranks 13th in rebounds (650), 21st in assists (182) and fifth in steals (270) – that made her such a tremendous player on the court.

Before arriving at Marymount, Brown played one season at Division II Catawba College.