Vanderbilt Coach Signs Son to Basketball Team

Mark Byington brings his son Chase onto the Commodores roster.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Vanderbilt basketball coach Mark Byington has signed his son, Chase Byington, to play for the Commodores. Chase is a senior guard at Ensworth High School in Nashville. The move allows the father and son to play together and make up for lost time after Mark took the Vanderbilt job when Chase was younger.

Why it matters

This is an unusual move in college basketball, where coaches typically avoid nepotism and recruiting their own children to play for them. However, the Byingtons see it as an opportunity to bond and make the most of their time together on the court.

The details

Chase Byington is a standout senior guard at Ensworth High School in Nashville. When his father, Mark Byington, took the Vanderbilt head coaching job a few years ago, it meant the two would be separated during Chase's high school career. Now, they'll get to play together at the college level, which both say was a major factor in the decision.

  • Mark Byington became the Vanderbilt basketball head coach in 2023.
  • Chase Byington is a senior at Ensworth High School in the 2025-2026 school year.

The players

Mark Byington

The head basketball coach at Vanderbilt University.

Chase Byington

The son of Mark Byington and a senior guard at Ensworth High School in Nashville.

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What they’re saying

“It was as much for me as it was for him. I wanted to have that experience with him.”

— Mark Byington, Vanderbilt Basketball Head Coach (The Tennessean)

What’s next

Chase Byington will join the Vanderbilt basketball team for the 2026-2027 season.

The takeaway

The unique father-son dynamic of having a coach recruit his own child to play for him is rare in college basketball, but the Byingtons see it as an opportunity to make the most of their time together on the court before Chase's college career begins.