Almost a month after firing Charlton Young as the head men’s basketball coach for Georgia Southern University, the Eagles have found his replacement as they announced the hiring of Mark Byington, former assistant at Virginia Tech University.

“He is a nuts and bolts guy that flat out tried to kill me with his work ethic every day. And that’s my kind of guy,” Atheltic Director Tom Kleinlein said.

This will be Byington’s first time serving as a head coach full time coming off his only year as an assistant with the Hokies after serving as an assistant head coach at the College of Charleston for nine seasons.

Byington does have game experience, as he held a 7-4 record serving as the interim head coach for the Cougars just two seasons ago.

GSU finished the season 14-19 losing in the Southern Conference Tournament to the eventual Southern Conference Champions Davidson College.

Byington said, “This is a special place. And I know it from only being here for a day (and) coaching against it. This is a very very special place.”