After honing her craft as an assistant coach for the last five years, Kate Vlahakis will have the opportunity to lead her own program beginning this season as she was named the new head coach of the Manhattanville women’s basketball team, Director of Athletics Keith Levinthal announced on Wednesday.

Vlahakis takes over for Josh Suttles, who was forced to resign unexpectedly due to a family emergency in mid-August.

Vlahakis comes to Manhattanville after a two-year stint at Framingham State University, where she served as an assistant coach under Patricia O’Brien and played a vital role in all aspects of the Division III program. As coach with the Rams, she helped the program to a MASCAC Tournament appearance in her second season and also mentored the reigning MASCAC Rookie of the Year as well as a second-team All-Conference performer.

Prior to her time in Framingham, Vlahakis served three seasons as an assistant coach at Simmons College. While in Boston, the Sharks posted a combined 44-29 record in three years and earned a spot in the GNAC Tournament in all three seasons.

A native of Lebanon, N.H., Vlahakis was a four-year member of the women’s basketball team at Division III Saint Lawrence University, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In her time in Canton, the Saints made four straight NCAA Tournaments and were nationally ranked in all four years, while she individually was named the team’s Most Improved Player in 2003.

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