| Mark Byington | |
| Current Title: | Head coach |
| Current Team: | Vanderbilt |
| Current Conference: | SEC |
| Birth Date: | 22 April 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Salem, Virginia, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1994–1998 |
| Player Team1: | UNC Wilmington |
| Player Positions: | Guard |
| Coach Years1: | 2002–2004 |
| Coach Team1: | Charleston (asst.) |
| Coach Years2: | 2004–2005 |
| Coach Team2: | Virginia (asst.) |
| Coach Years3: | 2005–2012 |
| Coach Team3: | Charleston (asst.) |
| Coach Years4: | 2012 |
| Coach Team4: | Charleston (interim HC) |
| Coach Years5: | 2012–2013 |
| Coach Team5: | Virginia Tech (asst.) |
| Coach Years6: | 2013–2020 |
| Coach Team6: | Georgia Southern |
| Coach Years7: | 2020–2024 |
| Coach Team7: | James Madison |
| Coach Years8: | 2024–present |
| Coach Team8: | Vanderbilt |
| Tournament Record: | 1–1 (NCAA Division I) 0–1 (CBI) |
| Championships: | CAA regular season (2021) Sun Belt tournament (2024) |
| Awards: | CAA Coach of the Year (2021) |
Mark Byington (born April 22, 1976) is an American basketball coach and former player who is currently the head men's basketball coach at Vanderbilt University.[1] He previously served as the head basketball coach at James Madison University.
Mark Byington played high school basketball at Salem High School located in Salem, Virginia. He led the Salem Spartans coached by former Dobyns-Bennett head coach Charlie Morgan to a 26–1 record in the 1993–94 season and to the Group AA state championship defeating Louisa County. His #32 jersey has since been retired by Salem High School along with #11 Richard Morgan, who was an All-American.
Byington was a three-year starter for the UNC Wilmington basketball team. He was awarded 2nd-team All-Colonial Athletic Association and All-CAA Defensive Team honors his senior year. In his four years at UNCW, he was a two-time CAA All-Academic selection and scored more than 1,000 points during his career.[2]
Byington spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at the College of Charleston, including seven as Bobby Cremins’ top assistant. The College of Charleston compiled a record of 194–100 and a 108–51 record in the Southern Conference during the years when Byington was an assistant coach. During those seasons, they also recorded six 20-win seasons, logged three Southern Conference South Division regular-season titles, advanced to the league's tournament championship game three times and made two appearances in the NIT.
After a one year assistant coaching stop at Virginia Tech, Byington was hired as the head coach at Georgia Southern.[3] [4] In seven seasons with the Eagles, he guided them to a 131–97 overall record, with three-straight 20-win seasons in his final three seasons. On March 20, 2020, Byington was named the 11th head coach in James Madison history, replacing Louis Rowe.[5] [6]