Curt Cignetti Denies Pushing Mark Byington for IU Coaching Role

The Indiana men's basketball coaching search has taken an interesting turn with speculation surrounding Mark Byington, currently the head coach at Vanderbilt, who has led the team to a promising 17-7 record. Reports suggested that Curt Cignetti, the Indiana football coach and Byington's former colleague at James Madison, was advocating for Byington's hiring at Indiana. However, Cignetti quickly refuted this claim on social media, emphasizing that Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson possesses greater expertise in basketball matters. Despite Cignetti's denial, Byington remains a strong candidate due to his successful track record, which includes guiding James Madison to the NCAA Tournament's second round last season. The chatter regarding potential candidates, including Byington, has intensified as Indiana prepares for a coaching change when Mike Woodson steps down after the 2024-25 season. As the search unfolds, Byington's impressive performance at Vanderbilt continues to attract attention.