Vanderbilt Hires Mark Byington as Head Coach Following Impressive Season at James Madison

The Nashville Tennessean has reportedly selected Mark Byington, the current head coach of James Madison University, to lead their basketball program, according to an anonymous source familiar with the decision.

Byington, aged 47, boasts an impressive coaching record of 220–137, notably achieving a 32-4 season with James Madison, including notable upset wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin.

In the 2022-23 season, James Madison secured 22 wins and ranked within the top 100 of KenPom rankings, despite missing out on any postseason tournaments.

Following a disappointing 9-23 season under former coach Jerry Stackhouse, Vanderbilt engaged in the search for a new head coach with a preference for experienced mid-major coaches like Kevin Stallings and Bryce Drew.

Byington’s coaching resume includes high-major assistant stints at Virginia and Virginia Tech, along with successful head coaching positions at Georgia Southern and College of Charleston.

Stackhouse’s tenure at Vanderbilt was marred by a lack of success, failing to reach the NCAA tournament in his five seasons with the team.

Aria Gerson, who covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean, has been closely monitoring the coaching changes.