Derek Mason comments as Oklahoma State hiring made official

Oklahoma State officially announced Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason in the same role Wednesday morning. He fills the void left by former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was hired by Ohio State this offseason.  The expectation of the hire was first reported by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

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

In the school press release, Mason issued a statement on his new position with the Cowboys.

“After meaningful discussions with Coach Gundy these past few weeks about his vision for the program, it became apparent that leading the defense for the Cowboys was the right fit for me,” Mason said. “I look forward to working with the student-athletes, coaches and staff as they continue to build a winning culture of success, inclusion and integrity on and off the field.”

More about Derek Mason

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.