Vanderbilt University has announced the appointment of Mark Byington, former head coach of James Madison University, as their new head coach for the men's basketball team. Byington comes to Vanderbilt after an impressive season with James Madison, where he led the Dukes to a record-breaking 32 wins and their first NCAA tournament victory since 1983.

During his tenure at James Madison, Byington achieved remarkable success, starting with a notable road win against No. 4 Michigan State in their season opener. The Dukes remained undefeated, racking up 14 consecutive wins before experiencing their first loss in January. The team's dominance continued, culminating in a convincing 20-point victory over Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference tournament title game. As a result, James Madison secured a 12-seed in the NCAA tournament.

Vanderbilt Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee expressed her admiration for Coach Byington, citing his competitiveness, intensity, and dedication to the development of student-athletes both on and off the court. Lee was impressed by Byington's vision to elevate Vanderbilt men's basketball to new levels of success and his passion for the game.

Byington's coaching prowess was evident in the tournament as James Madison defeated the 5-seed Wisconsin Badgers, never trailing in the game, and securing a comprehensive 72-61 victory. Unfortunately, the Dukes' impressive season came to an end with a loss to Duke in a 93-55 defeat.

With four successful seasons at James Madison, including a share of the CAA regular-season title in 2021, Byington's coaching experience and track record make him well-suited to lead Vanderbilt men's basketball. Prior to his tenure at James Madison, Byington served as the head coach for Georgia Southern for seven seasons, achieving 20 or more wins in each of his final three seasons with the Eagles. Additionally, he brings valuable assistant coaching experience from his time at Virginia Tech, Charleston, and Virginia.

Expressing his excitement for the new role, Byington acknowledged the eagerness for success among Commodore fans and the shared vision with Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee and Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. Byington believes that Vanderbilt basketball has the potential to become one of the nation's elite programs.

Byington replaces former head coach Jerry Stackhouse, who was relieved of his duties earlier in the season after a five-year stint that saw Vanderbilt secure 22 wins in the 2022-23 season but ultimately fall short of reaching the NCAA tournament.

Vanderbilt University and its basketball community eagerly anticipate the arrival of Coach Byington and look forward to a new era of success and growth for the Commodores under his leadership.