Ashley Van Vechten, one of Division III’s most decorated players, was named Suffolk women’s soccer’s head coach in 2018 and begins her fourth season in 2021. 

Van Vechten is the third coach in Suffolk women’s soccer’s short history, first female to lead the blue-and-gold and inaugural full-time coach for the program. 

In her first season with the blue-and-gold Van Vechten led the Rams to a 4-10-1 record, including a 3-8-1 conference slate. The Rams finished the season strong with two shutout victories over conference foe Norwich and Mass. Maritime. 

Van Vechten’s second season saw Suffolk hit new heights. Outscoring its foes 34-21, the Rams recorded 10 victories (10-6-0) eight in shutout fashion to write a program record. The blue-and-gold not only locked up a place in the GNAC Tournament thanks to an 8-4 league ledger for the first time under Van Vechten’s leadership, but since 2017 and eighth time overall. The Rams earned the fourth seed and hosting rights, the highest finish since it won the 2010 regular-season crown. 

Both Caleigh O’Brien and Allison Rodrigues picked up All-GNAC Third-Team recognition for their efforts on the pitch, while Van Vechten was voted GNAC Coach of the Year by her peers, the first Suffolk women’s head coach to earn the feat.

In what was supposed to be Suffolk's first season in the CCC in 2020 ended up being a more record book season for a different reason as the Rams were sidelined due the global COVID-19 pandemic.  

She ventured to Boston for her first collegiate head coaching opportunity after serving four seasons as first assistant at her alma mater, the University of Rochester, where she had a standout career on the field and coaching. 

Over her coaching tenure at Rochester, a top-tier research university in up-state New York, her vast responsibilities centered around recruiting the well-rounded student-athlete that can prosper at the Division III level, the campus community and global community at large. The success can be shown in the 17 All-UAA selections and 12 UAA All-Academic team members, who sustained a grade point average of 3.30 or higher, in addition to achieving success on the field. 

While her coaching resume is extensive, her playing portfolio speaks for itself. During her time in a Yellow Jackets jersey, she garnered three All-America selections – first team as a sophomore and junior, second team as a senior - from National Coaches Soccer Association, in conjunction with Adidas, becoming the first Rochester women’s soccer play to earn All-America distinction in three consecutive seasons. The two-time New York State Defensive Player of the Year led Rochester to the NCAA Tournament twice, including a Sweet 16 run in 2005 and an Elite 8 appearance the following season, two ECAC Regional Championship trips and one UAA Title in 2004. The four-time first-team All-UAA defender was also tabbed a first-team All-New York State honoree in each of her four seasons. Van Vechten started 79 of 81 games in her college career, missing only two games due to injury. In that time, Rochester held 67 of 79 opponents to one goal or less with 48 shutouts.   

One of the most honored women’s soccer players in Rochester’s 30-plus history, Van Vechten not only shined on the pitch, but in the classroom. The Bachelor of Arts dual major in history and German language was both a Renaissance and Fulbright Scholar, a Garnish Award Recipient, which is awarded to a student-athlete with outstanding scholastic achievement, and was a member of the Keidaeans Senior Honor Society. She was also recognized for her combined athletic and academic ability with spots on the ESPN The Magazine Academic College Division Women’s Soccer Team and the National Coaches Soccer Association/Adidas All-America Scholar Team.