BOSTON – James Madison men’s basketball head coach Mark Byington has been named recipient of the Hugh Durham Award ‘Mid-Season’ National Coach of the Year honor.
 
James Madison (13-0) entered 2024 as one of just three remaining unbeaten teams in college basketball. Currently ranked No. 19, the Dukes have been listed in eight-consecutive Associated Press Top 25 polls. Additionally, JMU moved to No. 1 in the first Mid-Major Top 25® poll of the New Year. It’s the first time since the 2015-16 season that a school other than Gonzaga was ranked No. 1 during the regular season.
 
Currently No. 32 in the NET, James Madison climbed as high as 24 on Dec. 20, which is the highest in school history.
 
The Hugh Durham award is named in honor of the former Florida State, Georgia and Jacksonville head coach. In eight seasons, at Jacksonville University, Durham became the Dolphins' all-time winningest Division I coach (106 wins), making him the only coach in NCAA history to be the winningest coach (pct. or wins) at three different Division I schools.
 
Coaches of teams in the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, ASUN, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Coastal Athletic, CUSA, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, West Coast.
 
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2024 award will be announced in Phoenix, Ariz., site of this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.