Bubba Cunningham and Steve Newmark are diving into a high-stakes search for North Carolina basketball’s next head coach, marking the program's first open hunt in nearly 80 years. The Tar Heels have their sights set on some of the brightest young minds in college basketball. Names like Billy Donovan, a two-time national champion, and Brad Stevens have been floated around, showing just how ambitious this search is.
UNC remains a top-tier destination, and there's a strong chance they'll snag one of their prime targets. However, if Dusty May, Billy Donovan, Tommy Lloyd, Brad Stevens, and TJ Otzelberger all pass on the opportunity, Vanderbilt’s head coach, Mark Byington, becomes a compelling backup option.
Byington might be further down the wishlist, but he’s certainly in the mix. The 49-year-old, who once played for UNC Wilmington, has yet to sign a contract extension with Vanderbilt, despite having it on his desk since their NCAA Tournament run ended against Nebraska. This delay suggests he’s keeping his options open, possibly hoping for a call from Chapel Hill.
Mark Byington, with his Southeastern roots and ACC experience at Virginia and Virginia Tech, has made a name for himself by leading the Commodores to consecutive NCAA Tournaments after his tenure at James Madison. For most programs, he’d be a stellar hire, even if he’s not UNC’s first choice.
If the Tar Heels’ search reaches Byington, it would indicate a rough patch in their plans. Yet, his hesitation to finalize a deal with Vanderbilt means UNC wouldn’t face a hefty buyout to bring him on board.
More likely, if UNC fills their spot with someone else, schools like Arizona or Michigan-should they lose their coaches to UNC-might eye Byington for their openings. In this unpredictable coaching carousel, Byington stands out as a prime consolation prize, which is a pretty good position to be in.
Should UNC manage to lure Donovan from the NBA, Byington could stay put at Vanderbilt, likely securing a lucrative extension and pay raise.