Report: Middle Tennessee targeting former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason as head coach

Middle Tennessee appears to be lining up its next head football coach, with reports emerging Tuesday night that the program is targeting former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason for the job.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the Blue Raiders were targeting Mason for the gig.

Mason most recently worked as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State in 2022 before taking a one-year sabbatical from coaching. Prior to his stint at Oklahoma State, he served as the Auburn defensive coordinator in 2021.

The 54-year-old coach spent seven years as the head coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-20, putting together a 27-55 overall record and a 10-46 mark in SEC play. The Commodores reached bowl games under his leadership twice, though they lost both bowl games.

Mason’s career really began to take off in 2010, when he was hired as an assistant on Jim Harbaugh‘s Stanford staff. He would quickly rise the ranks there, upping his profile and eventually making him an attractive enough candidate to land the Vanderbilt head coaching job.

Mason’s Vanderbilt stint got off to an encouraging start, too. After winning just three games in his first season, Mason won four games in his second and six in his third. He won five games the following year and then six again.

Then things started to turn south. Vanderbilt went 3-9 in Year 6 before going 0-8 in Year 7 as Mason was fired before the season ended.

You can view more about Mason’s coaching history below.

The Derek Mason File

2022 – Oklahoma State (defensive coordinator)
2021 – Auburn (defensive coordinator)
2014-20 – Vanderbilt (head coach)
2012-13 – Stanford (associate head coach, defensive coordinator)
2011 – Stanford (associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs)
2010 – Stanford (defensive backs)
2007-09 – Minnesota Vikings (assistant defensive backs)
2005-06 – Ohio (wide receivers)
2004 – New Mexico State (wide receivers)
2003 – Saint Mary’s (associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator)
2002 – Utah (wide receivers, special teams)
1999-01 – Bucknell (defensive backs)
1997-98 – Idaho State (running backs)
1995-96 – Weber State (wide receivers)
1994 – Mesa CC (wide receivers)