Report: Oklahoma State set to hire SEC defensive coordinator

Oklahoma State has reportedly hired Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason to fill the void left by former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was hired by Ohio State this offseason, according to a The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Mason’s name first emerged as a possibility for Mike Gundy’s staff on Jan. 19, when Feldman said that Mason had emerged as a “strong candidate” for the vacancy with the Cowboys.

Mason spent one year at Auburn and despite Auburn’s subpar performance, the Tigers’ defense was a strong point in 2021. Mason successfully alternated between a three-man and four-man front with Auburn, and the Tigers finished the year ranked 27th in the FBS in scoring defense and 29th against the run.

Auburn allowed just 21.77 points per game under Mason last season, including 372 yards of total offense allowed per game. The Tigers ranked fifth in the SEC in points allowed per game, trailing only Georgia, Texas A&M, Alabama and Kentucky. Their rushing defense was a strong suit, as Mason’s unit allowed just 127.2 rushing yards per game, which also ranked fifth in the SEC. Additionally, Auburn amassed 36 sacks, sixth-most in the SEC, and nine interceptions.

Prior to his arrival at Auburn, Mason coached seven seasons at Vanderbilt before his dismissal in 2020. Mason led Vanderbilt to two bowl games in his tenure — the 2018 Texas Bowl and the 2016 Independence Bowl — and joined James Franklin as the only Vanderbilt head coaches to lead the Commodores to multiple bowl games.

Mason’s tenure at Vanderbilt was highlighted by five wins over Tennessee in a seven-year span, including a streak of three-straight wins against Tennessee. He became the first Vanderbilt head coach since Dan McGugin in 1924-1926 to win three consecutive rivalry games against Tennessee. Mason also helped recruit and develop a number of NFL players like Packers linebacker Oren Burks, Titans linebacker Zach Cunningham, Buccaneers running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, Broncos linebacker Andre Mintze and several more.

He finished with a 27-55 record in seven years at the helm and was fired amid Vanderbilt’s winless campaign in 2020. Vanderbilt was 0-8 — and would finish 0-9 after one loss and one no-contest under interim head coach Todd Fitch — and was coming off a 41-0 loss to Missouri in which Sarah Fuller became the first woman to appear in an FBS football game.

Prior to Vanderbilt, Mason had a highly successful four-year run at Stanford. He spent the 2010 season as Stanford’s defensive backs coach, before promotion to assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator in 2011, then again to associate head coach and sole defensive coordinator in 2012. Mason helped lead the Stanford Cardinal defense to consecutive Rose Bowl appearances and consecutive Pac-12 titles.

Mason previously held position coaching roles with the Minnesota Vikings, Ohio Bobcats, New Mexico State Aggies, St Mary’s Gaels, Utah Utes and Bucknell Bisons.