After leading James Madison to its most successful four-season stretch in over 30 years, highlighted by a victory in the NCAA Tournament last weekend, Mark Byington was named men’s basketball head coach at Vanderbilt Monday by Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee.
After working this weekend with former @JMUMBasketball HC Mark Byington I was so impressed with how he ran his program, the way he coached and how he built chemistry with his team. Not surprised by this move- a great one for @VandyMBB
— Tracy Wolfson (@tracywolfson) March 25, 2024
So what can @VandyMBB expect from a Mark Byington-coached team? Pressure. Per KenPom, James Madison was 19th in DI in steals percentage. Also 5th in 3PT FG defense; that’s huge in today’s game. Offensively, Dukes were 47 in 2PT% and 61 in 3PT%. Balanced.
— Chris Dortch (@cdortch) March 25, 2024
“He works as hard as anybody I’ve been around,” Bobby Cremins says of Mark Byington, his longtime top assistant at College of Charleston.
More, from Cremins and others, here on the new Vanderbilt men’s basketball coach: https://t.co/Y3dAHmU03z
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) March 25, 2024
It has been awesome getting to spend time around Mark Byington this week. Super even-keeled, funny and insightful.
Asked if the level of success for JMU this year surpassed even his wildest dreams, Byington replies, “If I ever took time to think about it, yes, it would be.” https://t.co/z0zvFWQqgc
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) March 23, 2024
This guy took over a program that was 9-21 in the 2019-20 season. Now, they’ve won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 1983.
Mark Byington is now a James Madison University legend. pic.twitter.com/cAv5Y20F9y
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 23, 2024
Mark Byington’s KenPom ranking for his first year vs. his final year at the program:
James Madison
2021: 177
2024: 62Georgia Southern
2014: 291
2020: 134— Max Barr (@MaxBarrCBB) March 26, 2024
Career Timeline
| 2024-Present | Head Coach | Vanderbilt |
| 2020-24 | Head Coach | James Madison |
| 2013-20 | Head Coach | Georgia Southern |
| 2012-13 | Assistant Coach | Virginia Tech |
| 2012 | Interim Head Coach | College of Charleston |
| 2005-12 | Assistant Coach | College of Charleston |
| 2004-05 | Director of Operations | Virginia |
| 2002-04 | Assistant Coach | College of Charleston |
| 2001-02 | Assistant Coach | Hargrave Military Academy |
| 1999-2001 | Gradaute Manager | Virginia |
| 1994-98 | Player | UNC Wilmington |
Head Coaching Record
| 2023-24 | James Madison | 32-4 | 15-3 | Sun Belt Champions NCAA Second Round |
| 2022-23 | James Madison | 22-11 | 12-6 | Sun Belt Semifinals |
| 2021-22 | James Madison | 15-14 | 6-12 | Banned from conference tournament by league vote |
| 2020-21 | James Madison | 13-7 | 8-2 | CAA First Round |
| 2019-20 | Georgia Southern | 20-13 | 12-8 | Sun Belt Semifinals (cancelled due to Covid) |
| 2018-19 | Georgia Southern | 21-12 | 12-6 | Sun Belt Semifinals |
| 2017-18 | Georgia Southern | 21-12 | 11-7 | Sun Belt Semifinals |
| 2016-17 | Georgia Southern | 18-15 | 11-7 | Sun Belt Semifinals CBI First Round |
| 2015-16 | Georgia Southern | 14-17 | 10-10 | Sun Belt First Round |
| 2014-15 | Georgia Southern | 22-9 | 14-6 | Sun Belt Finals |
| 2013-14 | Georgia Southern | 15-19 | 6-10 | SoCon Semifinals |
| 2011-12 | College of Charleston | 7-4 | 6-3 | SoCon First Round |