Derek Mason facts for kids

Derek Mason is an American college football coach. He was born on September 29, 1969. Currently, he is the head football coach for Middle Tennessee State University. Before this, he was the head coach at Vanderbilt University from 2014 to 2020.

Derek Mason's Early Life and Playing Days

Derek Mason grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He went to Camelback High School. After high school, he attended Northern Arizona University. There, he played college football as a cornerback. He was a starter for two years.

Derek Mason's Coaching Journey

After his time as a player, Derek Mason began coaching college football. He coached at several universities. These included Mesa Community College, Weber State, and Bucknell. He also coached at Utah, St. Mary's, New Mexico State, and Ohio. From 2007 to 2009, he coached defensive backs for the Minnesota Vikings. This was a professional team in the NFL.

Coaching at Stanford

In 2010, Mason joined the coaching staff at Stanford. He started as the defensive backs coach. In 2011, he was promoted to associate head coach. He also became a co-defensive coordinator.

By 2012, Mason was the main defensive coordinator for Stanford. He was even a finalist for the Broyles Award. This award goes to the best assistant coach in college football each year.

Leading the Vanderbilt Commodores

On January 17, 2014, Derek Mason became the new head football coach at Vanderbilt. This made Vanderbilt the first school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to have more than one minority head football coach in its history.

His first win as head coach was against UMass. Vanderbilt won 34–31. The team finished his first season with a 3–9 record.

In his second season, Vanderbilt showed some improvement. They finished with a 4–8 record. Mason earned his first win against an SEC opponent. This was a 10–3 victory over Missouri. He also got his first road win against Middle Tennessee State University. The team's defense was very strong.

In 2016, Mason led Vanderbilt to a 6–6 record. This meant they were eligible for a bowl game for the first time under his leadership. They had important wins against Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. The team's offense improved late in the season.

A player named Zach Cunningham became a national finalist for the Butkus Award. This award is for the best college linebacker. He was the first player under Mason at Vanderbilt to be named a consensus All-American.

The 2017 season started well with a 3–0 record. They even beat a ranked Kansas State team. However, the team finished 5–7 and did not play in a bowl game. They did manage to defeat Tennessee again.

In 2018, Vanderbilt went 6–6 in the regular season. They earned a spot in the Texas Bowl. Mason became the first Vanderbilt coach since 1926 to beat Tennessee three years in a row.

The 2019 season was more challenging, with the team finishing 3–9. Their only conference win was against Missouri.

During the 2020 season, which was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a historic moment happened. Sarah Fuller, the school's women's soccer goalkeeper, played in a game. She became the first woman to play in a game for a Power Five conference team. She kicked off the second half against Missouri. After the 2020 season, Derek Mason left Vanderbilt.

Coaching Defenses at Auburn and Oklahoma State

On January 7, 2021, Mason was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Auburn Tigers. He was in charge of their defense.

On January 26, 2022, Mason became the defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He coached their defense for that season.

Becoming Head Coach at Middle Tennessee

On December 6, 2023, Derek Mason was announced as the 15th head coach of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team. In the 2024 season, he coached the Blue Raiders to a 3–9 record.

Derek Mason's Family Life

Derek Mason is married to LeighAnne. They have two daughters named Sydney and Makenzie. Makenzie played lacrosse for the University of Florida.

Coaching Records