Derek Mason

For the American football wide receiver, see Derrick Mason.

Derek Mason
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamMiddle Tennessee
ConferenceCUSA
Record3–6
Biographical details
Born (1969-09-29) September 29, 1969 (age 55)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Playing career
1989–1992Northern Arizona
Position(s)Cornerback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994Mesa (AZ) (WR)
1995–1996Weber State (WR)
1997–1998Idaho State (RB)
1999–2001Bucknell (DB)
2002Utah (WR/ST)
2003Saint Mary's (AHC/co-DC)
2004New Mexico State (WR)
2005–2006Ohio (WR)
2007–2009Minnesota Vikings (asst. DB)
2010Stanford (DB)
2011Stanford (AHC/co-DC/DB)
2012–2013Stanford (AHC/DC)
2014–2020Vanderbilt
2021Auburn (DC)
2022Oklahoma State (DC)
2024–presentMiddle Tennessee
Head coaching record
Overall30–61
Bowls0–2

Derek Mason (born September 29, 1969) is an American college football coach who is currently the head football coach for Middle Tennessee State University. He previously served as head coach at Vanderbilt University from 2014 to 2020.

Early life and playing career

[edit]

Mason attended Camelback High School in Phoenix, Arizona.[1] After graduating from high school, he attended Northern Arizona University, where he was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at cornerback.[2][3][4]

Coaching career

[edit]

After his playing career ended, Mason coached college football at Mesa Community College,[5] Weber State,[6] Bucknell,[7] Utah,[8] St. Mary's,[9] New Mexico State,[10] and Ohio.[11] From 2007 to 2009, he coached defensive backs for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL under Brad Childress, who had been one of his coaches at Northern Arizona.[12][13]

Stanford

[edit]

In 2010, Mason was hired as defensive backs coach on Jim Harbaugh's staff at Stanford. In 2011, Mason was promoted to associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator under new head coach David Shaw.[14] In 2012, Mason became the sole defensive coordinator for the Cardinal and was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football.[15][16] In 2013, the defensive coordinator position was endowed and named the Willie Shaw Director of Defense,[17]

Vanderbilt

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On January 17, 2014, Vanderbilt hired Mason as its new head football coach, succeeding James Franklin.[18] With the hire, Vanderbilt is the first and only school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to have multiple minority head football coaches in its history. After back–to–back home losses, Mason won his first game as head coach against UMass by a score of 34–31.[19] Vanderbilt had been outscored 10–78 in the two games prior to the win.[20] The Commodores struggled offensively for much of the season. Vanderbilt did not score an offensive touchdown for nine quarters and was the last Division I team to reach the end zone on offense.[21] With victories over Charleston Southern and Old Dominion, he finished the season with a 3–9 record.[22]

After a disappointing first season in Nashville, Mason fired both his offensive and defensive coordinators.[23][24] He hired Andy Ludwig, formerly the offensive coordinator at Wisconsin, to run the offense. Mason decided to call the defensive plays himself.[25]

His second season saw moderate growth for Vanderbilt, culminating in a 4–8 record with numerous firsts for the young head coach.[26] Mason earned his first win against an SEC opponent (10–3 victory over Missouri)[27] and his first win while on the road (17–13 victory over Middle Tennessee State University).[28] The team was praised for a nationally respected defensive scheme, but the Commodores were unable to perform equally well with their offensive or special team capabilities.[29]

Mason continued his role as head coach and defensive coordinator in his third season at Vanderbilt, leading the Commodores to a 6–6 (3–5 SEC) record in 2016, earning bowl eligibility for the first time as a head coach.[30] Mason won his first SEC road game on October 15 at Georgia by the final score of 17–16.[31] The Commodores nearly picked up another road win against a ranked conference opponent on November 5 at Auburn, losing 23–16 after throwing a late interception at the opponents' 30 yard line in the final minute.[32] After a disappointing loss to Missouri the next week,[33] the Commodores needed to beat both Ole Miss and Tennessee at home in the team's final two games of the season to assure themselves of bowl eligibility, though they would have still reached a bowl with a 5–7 record based on a high Academic Performance Rating (APR), which determines the bowl eligibility of five win teams for open bowl slots.[34] APR became a non-factor as the Commodores upset both Ole Miss and Tennessee at home in back-to-back games to end the regular season with a 6–6 record on the strength of three conference wins.[35][36] Vandy scored a combined 83 points in the two wins as the offense came alive late in the season. Mason's dancing on the sideline and post-game celebration after defeating Tennessee were widely shared on Twitter and ESPN.[37]

Under Mason, redshirt junior linebacker Zach Cunningham became a national finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's best collegiate linebacker.[38] He was Mason's first player at Vanderbilt to be a consensus All-American.[39]

Year four for Mason was a disappointing regression in the 2017 season. Despite an historic 3–0 start, including defeating a then 18th ranked Kansas State at home in week 3[40] and ending a five-year losing streak of opening games since 2012, the Commodores finished 5–7 and were unable to play in a bowl game despite APR.[41] Derek Mason was unable to answer the Alabama Crimson Tide in week 4 with a 59–0 loss,[42] and experienced a five-game losing streak until defeating Western Kentucky 31–17 in week 10.[43] However, despite their lackluster performance, Vanderbilt was able to defeat Tennessee, ensuring the Volunteers' first ever eight-loss season.[44][45]

The 2018 season began with Mason considered on the hot seat, one of 10 coaches identified by ESPN to be facing this challenge.[46] He earned significant conference victories over Arkansas and Ole Miss.[47][48] He is the first Vanderbilt football coach to beat the Tennessee Volunteers three years in a row since Dan McGugin did it in 1924, 1925, and 1926.[49] Vanderbilt went 6–6 in the regular season and earned a spot in the Texas Bowl, where they lost 45–38 to Baylor.[50]

The 2019 season saw significant regression for Vanderbilt and Mason. The team scored ten points or less in six of their 12 games.[51] The team went 3–9, with the lone conference victory coming in a 21–14 upset against Missouri.[52]

During the COVID-19-shortened conference-only 2020 season,[53] Mason helped the program make history by introducing Sarah Fuller, the school's women's soccer goalkeeper, into a November 28 game against Missouri. Fuller was the first woman to play in a game for a Power Five conference team, kicking off the second half, although Fuller never got a chance to kick a field goal or an extra point that day with Vanderbilt falling to Missouri 41–0 and 0–8 on the season.[54][55] Fuller's appearance was not enough to offset seven consecutive seasons with a losing record, and the next day Mason was fired.[56] Partially due to the COVID-19-shortened season, Mason became the first coach in school history to go winless in a season.[57]

Auburn

[edit]

On January 7, 2021, Mason was hired as the Auburn Tigers’ defensive coordinator.[58]

Oklahoma State

[edit]

On January 26, 2022, it was announced that Mason was hired as the next defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma State Cowboys after the departure of previous defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.[59] Mason would not return for the following season.[60]

Middle Tennessee

[edit]

Mason was announced as the 15th head coach of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team on December 6, 2023.[61]

Personal life

[edit]

Mason and his wife, LeighAnne, have two daughters, Sydney and Makenzie.[62] Makenzie was a lacrosse player for the University of Florida.[63][64]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Vanderbilt Commodores (Southeastern Conference) (2014–2020)
2014 Vanderbilt 3–9 0–8 7th (Eastern)
2015 Vanderbilt 4–8 2–6 T–4th (Eastern)
2016 Vanderbilt 6–7 3–5 T–5th (Eastern) L Independence
2017 Vanderbilt 5–7 1–7 6th (Eastern)
2018 Vanderbilt 6–7 3–5 6th (Eastern) L Texas
2019 Vanderbilt 3–9 1–7 7th (Eastern)
2020 Vanderbilt 0–8* 0–8* (Eastern)
Vanderbilt: 27–55 10–46 *Fired after 8 games.
Middle Tennessee (Conference USA) (2024–present)
2024 Middle Tennessee 3–6 2–3
Middle Tennessee: 3–6 2–3
Total: 30–61

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ "Family Ties: Derek Mason is No Stranger to Arizona State Football". Oklahoma State University Athletics. September 9, 2022. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "NAU Alum Derek Mason Named Head Football Coach at Vanderbilt University". Northern Arizona University Athletics. January 20, 2014. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
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  5. ^ Hills, Drake (June 1, 2020). "Vanderbilt's Derek Mason: Osia Lewis was able to keep me grounded". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "WEBER APPOINTS 3 TO FOOTBALL STAFF". Deseret News. August 11, 1995. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
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  38. ^ "Cunningham named finalist for prestigious Butkus Award". Vanderbilt University Athletics. November 21, 2016. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
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  44. ^ Stephenson, Creg (November 26, 2017). "Vanderbilt hands Tennessee its first 8-loss season". AL.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  45. ^ Toppmeyer, Blake (November 25, 2017). "Vandy 42, Tennessee 24: Vols lose eight games for first time in program history". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
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  51. ^ "2019 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
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  53. ^ "SEC announces new 2020 football schedule". SEC Sports. August 18, 2020. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  54. ^ Walljasper, Joseph (November 28, 2020). "Vanderbilt K Fuller becomes first woman to play in Power 5". AP News. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
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  57. ^ Cooper, Sam (November 29, 2020). "With team 0–8, Vanderbilt fires head coach Derek Mason". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  58. ^ Hill, Jordan D. (January 7, 2021). "Auburn hires former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason as defensive coordinator". Opelika-Auburn News. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  59. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (January 26, 2022). "Sources: Oklahoma St. Set to hire Mason as DC". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  60. ^ Cobb, David (January 12, 2023). "Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Derek Mason won't return in 2023, announces coaching sabbatical". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  61. ^ "Mason named 15th head coach of Blue Raider football". Middle Tennessee State University Athletics. December 6, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  62. ^ Cox, Jordan (August 27, 2014). "Meet the wives of the SEC East coaches". Saturday Down South. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  63. ^ "Makenzie Mason – 2018 Lacrosse Roster – Florida Gators". floridagators.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  64. ^ Sparks, Adam (December 25, 2016). "How Derek Mason turned Vanderbilt around through doubt, fear and tears". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
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