Derek Mason, regarded as one of the nation’s top coordinators, is the new head football coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Mason becomes head coach of a Commodore program that has enjoyed consecutive nine-win seasons and postseason Top 25 rankings for the first time in team history. The 2013 Vanderbilt squad finished 9-4, capped by a 41-24 victory over Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl.
Defensive coordinator at Stanford since 2011, Mason has helped take the Cardinal to Rose Bowl appearances in 2013 and 2014, and consecutive Pac-12 titles with one of the nation’s top defensive units. Under Mason, the Cardinal ranked among the NCAA national Top 15 in defensive efficiency for three consecutive years.
While facing seven ranked opponents and one of the nation’s toughest schedules in 2013, Mason’s defense ranked third in the NCAA in rushing defense (89.4 yards), 10th in scoring defense (19.0 points) and 16th in total offense (343.1 yards).
Off the field, the Cardinal ranks among the nation’s best with a football graduation rate of 95 percent. Stanford University was ranked No. 5 by U.S. News & World Report among national universities in 2013.