- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Mark Byington Emerges as Top Candidate for UNC Head Coach Role
Vanderbilt's Turnaround Specialist Seen as Ideal Fit to Elevate Tar Heels Basketball
Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:48am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The University of North Carolina is conducting a crucial coaching search after the firing of Hubert Davis, and Vanderbilt's Mark Byington has emerged as a leading contender. Byington, known for his ability to turn around struggling programs, has an impressive overall record of 267-160 and has led both James Madison and Vanderbilt to recent NCAA Tournament appearances, including a near-Sweet Sixteen run with the Commodores in 2026.
Why it matters
UNC believes a coach with a proven track record of consistent success and deep postseason runs is needed to elevate the program to its historical standards. Byington's coaching philosophy and potential fit within the UNC culture make him a compelling choice to lead the Tar Heels into the future.
The details
Byington's coaching journey began with assistant roles at the College of Charleston and Virginia before returning to Charleston as an interim coach in 2012. He then took the helm at Georgia Southern in 2013, where he achieved winning records in five of his seven seasons. However, it was his tenures at James Madison (2020-2024) and Vanderbilt (2024-present) that truly showcased his ability to elevate programs. James Madison hadn't experienced an NCAA Tournament appearance in over a decade before Byington arrived, and he quickly changed that, leading the Dukes to a historic tournament win in 2024. Similarly, Vanderbilt had endured five losing seasons in seven years before Byington took over, and now boasts two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a near-Sweet Sixteen run in 2026.
- Byington led James Madison to its first NCAA Tournament win in over 40 years in 2024.
- Vanderbilt has achieved two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances under Byington, including a near-Sweet Sixteen run in 2026.
The players
Mark Byington
The head coach of Vanderbilt University's basketball team, known for his ability to turn around struggling programs. Byington has an impressive overall record of 267-160 and has led both James Madison and Vanderbilt to recent NCAA Tournament appearances.
Hubert Davis
The former head coach of the University of North Carolina basketball team, who was fired after a stunning first-round NCAA Tournament loss to VCU.
What’s next
The University of North Carolina is expected to make a decision on its next head coach in the coming weeks, with Mark Byington emerging as a top candidate.
The takeaway
Mark Byington's impressive track record of turning around struggling programs and leading teams to consistent postseason success make him a highly attractive candidate to lead the University of North Carolina's basketball team. His coaching philosophy and potential fit within the UNC culture could be the key to elevating the Tar Heels back to their historical standards.
