Promising a fun, fast-paced and entertaining style of basketball, Mark Byington was introduced as Vanderbilt’s new men’s coach Thursday at Memorial Gymnasium.
Mark Byington
The former James Madison University coach takes over from Jerry Stackhouse, who was relieved of his duties earlier this month after five seasons, an overall 70-92 record and zero trips to the NCAA Tournament.
In Byington, Vanderbilt gets a coach with a proven track record, as he previously guided Georgia Southern (seven years) and James Madison (four years) to a combined mark of 213-133. Byington is fresh off the best season in JMU history, as he guided the Dukes to a 32-4 record in 2023-24. The effort included defeating Michigan State early in the year, winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament and capturing a first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Wisconsin.
“I want to let these guys use every ability they have on this court,” Byington said. “As a fan, you’re going to come watch the game and you’re going to see young men that want to play their hearts out for you. They’re going to play so hard; they’re going to represent everything you want in Vanderbilt. They’re going to be committed to winning, committed to playing the right way and it’s going to be something that you’re going to want to watch, and you’re going to go back and tell your friends, `Hey, you better come to the next game. These guys are good, and these guys are playing hard.’”
The 47-year-old Byington, a Salem, Va., native, will face a stiff challenge in turning around a Vanderbilt program that went 9-23 last season, 4-14 in the Southeastern Conference. The Commodores won 11 or fewer games in three of Stackhouse’s five seasons.
But Byington has a resume with two resurrections already on it. When he arrived at Georgia Southern in 2014, the school had produced just one winning record in the previous seven years. Byington led the Eagles to a 22-9 record in his second season there, and Georgia Southern won at least 20 games in four of his final six seasons.
When Byington began his tenure at James Madison in 2020, the Dukes had recorded four straight losing seasons, including a 9-21 mark in 2019-20. But Byington led JMU to four straight winning seasons, including a combined overall record of 54-15 in his last two years there.
“All roads continued to lead back to Mark Byington,” Vanderbilt Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee said of a nine-day coaching search. “Naturally, I was impressed by his track record of success, having engineered incredible turnarounds at Georgia Southern and James Madison. Each time I engaged with him, it was evident how he earned such a stellar reputation as an evaluator and developer of talent. His basketball acumen and his love for the game is undeniable.
“Mark and I talked quite a bit, and so many things resonated with me and made the shared vision clear. Things like, `I don’t hide from challenges. I get joy from leading young men. I love to mentor and develop. I don’t want them to just be basketball players’ … But to be clear he was quick to point out they would be very good basketball players.”
Byington said he has already been working for four days, and that over the next few weeks, he will concentrate on developing relationships with Vandy’s current players and on roster construction.
He will need to fill plenty of holes on the roster.
Point guard Ezra Manjon, Vandy’s leading scorer in 2023-24, has exhausted his eligibility. In addition, five ‘Dores have placed their names in the NCAA Transfer Portal — guard Tyrin Lawrence (13.8 pts, 5.1 rebs. per game in 2023-24); forward Colin Smith (7.1 pts, 6.6 rebs.), guard Jason Rivera-Torres (6.4 pts, 3.1 rebs.); guard Paul Lewis (4.4 pts., 1.2 assists); and forward Lee Dort (1.0 pt.).
Smith and Rivera-Torres have each said on social media they would be open to returning to Vandy, but it remains to be seen how Byington will approach the two.
Top players from Vandy’s team last season that are currently slated to return include forward Ven-Allen Lubin (12.3 pts., 6.3 rebs. in 2023-24) as well as rising sophomores like guard Isaiah West from Springfield, forward JaQualon Roberts and forward Malik Presley.
“I met with the team earlier today, and I can’t wait to coach them,” Byington said. “I saw a couple walking out here and I was in the tunnel, and I almost wished it was game day. I was like, `Wouldn’t it be cool to walk out if we were playing today?’ That’s how my juices are flowing, and seeing the passion, seeing the fanbase. In meeting all them, I can’t wait to make them the best they possibly can be.”
It’s entirely possible Byington could bring some of his former James Madison players here.
Four JMU players have entered the portal, led by 6-6, 190-pound guard Terrence Edwards, a rising senior who will also test the NBA waters. Edwards was named the Sun Belt Conference player of the year in 2023-24 after averaging 17.2 points, 3.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds last season. The three other JMU players in the portal include guard Xavier Brown (6.3 pts, 2.6 rebs.); forward Jaylen Carey (7.0 pts., 4.3 rebs.); and forward Justin Amadi (7.6 pts., 4.6 rebs. in 2022-23).
Byington will also be reaching out to Vandy’s high-school commitments, which include Brentwood Academy point guard Tyler Tanner, the two-time Gatorade state player of the year. Tanner told The Tennessean on Thursday he had heard from Byington and planned to honor his commitment.
The other two prep commitments are 6-2, 180-pound point guard Karris Bilal from Atlanta and 6-10, 205-pound forward Jamie Vinson from Austin.
Byington also made it a point to address Vanderbilt fans, saying he looked forward to having a relationship with them, and that he would do all he can to make them proud of the program. A common criticism of Stackhouse was that he didn’t endear himself to Commodores supporters, sometimes engaging in social-media arguments with those critical of him.
“To the fans and alumni, I understand your pride in Vanderbilt and you should be proud,” Byington said. “It is a beautiful, historic, great place. No matter what your emotions might have been, or feelings, the last couple, I want to say again, `Unite, come back, get with us.’”