Derek Mason facts for kids

Derek Mason (born September 29, 1969) is a well-known American college football coach. He is currently the head football coach for Middle Tennessee State University. Before this, he was the head coach at Vanderbilt University from 2014 to 2020. Coach Mason has a lot of experience in football, both as a player and a coach.

Early Life and Playing Career

Derek Mason grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and went to Camelback High School. After high school, he played college football at Northern Arizona University. He was a four-year letterman and started for two years as a cornerback, a defensive position in football.

Coaching Career Highlights

After his playing days, Mason started his coaching journey. He coached at several colleges like Mesa Community College, Weber State, and Bucknell. From 2007 to 2009, he coached defensive backs for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. This was a big step, working with professional players.

Coaching at Stanford

In 2010, Mason joined the coaching staff at Stanford University. He started as the defensive backs coach. In 2011, he was promoted to associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator. A defensive coordinator is the coach in charge of the team's defense.

By 2012, Mason became the main defensive coordinator for Stanford. He was even a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is given to the best assistant coach in college football each year. This showed how good he was at leading the defense.

Leading the Vanderbilt Commodores

On January 17, 2014, Derek Mason became the new head football coach for Vanderbilt University. This was a big deal because Vanderbilt became the first school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to have more than one minority head football coach in its history.

His first season at Vanderbilt was tough. After two losses, he got his first win against UMass with a score of 34–31. The team struggled to score points at first, but they kept working hard. He finished his first year with a 3–9 record.

For his second season, Mason made some changes to his coaching staff. He decided to take charge of calling the defensive plays himself. The team showed improvement, finishing with a 4–8 record. He earned his first win against an SEC opponent, beating Missouri 10–3. He also got his first road win against Middle Tennessee State University. People noticed Vanderbilt's strong defense, but the offense needed to catch up.

In 2016, Mason continued as both head coach and defensive coordinator. This year was a success! The Commodores finished with a 6–6 record, which meant they were eligible for a bowl game for the first time under Mason. They had some exciting wins, including a close 17–16 victory over Georgia on the road. They also upset Ole Miss and Tennessee at home at the end of the season. Mason's excited dancing after beating Tennessee became very popular online! During this time, one of his players, Zach Cunningham, became a national finalist for the Butkus Award, a top honor for linebackers.

The 2017 season started strong with a 3–0 record, including a win against a ranked Kansas State team. However, the team finished 5–7 and didn't make it to a bowl game. Despite a tough season, they still managed to beat Tennessee, which was a big win for the team and fans.

In 2018, Mason faced some pressure, but he led the team to important SEC victories over Arkansas and Ole Miss. He also made history by beating Tennessee three years in a row, a feat not achieved by a Vanderbilt coach since the 1920s! The team finished 6–6 and played in the Texas Bowl, where they had a close game but lost to Baylor.

The 2019 season was challenging for Vanderbilt, with a 3–9 record. Their one conference win was an upset against Missouri.

The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this season, Coach Mason helped make history by having Sarah Fuller, the school's women's soccer goalkeeper, play in a game. She became the first woman to play in a game for a major college football conference team, kicking off the second half against Missouri. Even with this historic moment, the team struggled, and Mason was no longer the head coach after the season.

Auburn and Oklahoma State

In 2021, Mason joined the Auburn Tigers as their defensive coordinator. The next year, in 2022, he became the defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Middle Tennessee

On December 6, 2023, Derek Mason was announced as the 15th head coach of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team, starting a new chapter in his coaching career.

Personal Life

Derek Mason is married to LeighAnne, and they have two daughters, Sydney and Makenzie. Makenzie followed in her father's footsteps as a college athlete, playing lacrosse for the University of Florida.

Head Coaching Record