Byington Named Finalist for National Coaching Honors in Historic Season

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- James Madison men's basketball head coach Mark Byington has been named a finalist for both the 2024 Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year award and the 2024 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award, as announced by CollegeInsider.com on Tuesday.

Under Byington's guidance, the Dukes have notched 31 wins this season, matching No. 1 UConn for the most in the country and setting a program record. The season started with a historic victory over then-No. 4 Michigan State in East Lansing, marking JMU's highest-ranked win ever. This triumph also made JMU the first team to defeat an AP preseason top-five team in their home opener since 2001.

The Dukes' success continued with a 14-game winning streak to start the season, the best in JMU history, leading to the program's first AP ranking and a high of No. 18. JMU maintained its national presence for eight consecutive weeks and concluded the regular season with a 28-3 record, the best in both program and Sun Belt Conference history. Over the past two seasons JMU has amassed 53 wins, leading the Sun Belt Conference.

JMU's achievements this season also include winning the Cancun Challenge and playing a pivotal role in the Sun Belt Conference's victory in the inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge. The Dukes excelled nationally in several statistical categories, including ranking first in the Sun Belt for scoring offense and ninth nationwide. JMU is coming off of the program's first Sun Belt Conference championship, after defeating Arkansas State 91-71 in the finale.

Players Terrence Edwards Jr. and T.J. Bickerstaff have garnered numerous accolades under Byington's leadership, with Edwards earning Sun Belt Player of the Year and Bickerstaff being named Newcomer of the Year among their many awards this season.

Byington, who celebrated his 200th career win in December and received the 2023-24 Hugh Durham mid-season coaching honor, continues to set new benchmarks in JMU's basketball history.

The selection for each award is made by a 10-member voting committee comprised of current and former head coaches, along with two senior staff members from CollegeInsider.com. The Hugh Durham Award focuses on exceptional leadership among mid-major programs, while the Jim Phelan Award honors outstanding coaching performance at all Division I institutions.

The 2024 recipients will be announced in Phoenix, Ariz., coinciding with the men's Division I Basketball Championship. This recognition highlights the achievements of the finest coaches in college basketball, celebrating their contributions to the sport and their teams' successes.

James Madison heads to Brooklyn this week to play in the program's first NCAA Tournament game since 2013. The Dukes will face Wisconsin on Friday night at 9:30 p.m. at the Barclays Center.

Calendar