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87 Comments
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Zenitz with AL.com is reporting that former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason has had some "preliminary contact with LSU" regarding the defensive coordinator position.

Ed Orgeron needs to find a replacement at defensive coordinator after parting ways with Bo Pelini this week.


Mason, 51-years old, was the head coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-2020, posting a 27–55 record over seven seasons. He was fired on Nov. 29 after going 0-8 this season.

Prior to his time in Nashville, Mason was on Stanford's staff from 2010-2013 working in roles such as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Before Stanford, he was an assistant defensive back coach with the Minnesota Vikings from 2007-2009.

Coaching career, according to Wikipedia:
1994 Mesa CC (WR)
1995–1996 Weber State (WR)
1997–1998 Idaho State (RB)
1999–2001 Bucknell (DB)
2002 Utah (WR/ST)
2003 St. Mary's (AHC/Co-DC)
2004 New Mexico State (WR)
2005–2006 Ohio (WR)
2007–2009 Minnesota Vikings (Asst. DB)
2010 Stanford (DB)
2011 Stanford (AHC/Co-DC/DB)
2012–2013 Stanford (AHC/DC)
2014–2020 Vanderbilt (HC)
Filed Under: LSU Football

Comments

87 Comments
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His Vanderbilt teams were very, very bad. And his sample size as defensive coordinator at Stanford was very small. Hard pass.
Reply29 months
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WEll one thing about him he knows how to accept losing with a smile.
Reply29 months
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Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!
Reply29 months
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Best DC at LSU was Muschamp in my opinion. Look what he did as a HC. Two completely different things. It could work.
Reply29 months
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AU just hired Bryan Harsin and he's probably bringing in his own staff; so let's bring back Kevin Steele to LSU! He's the best D. C. available with a proven track record and he's beat Nick Saban more than any other D.C. in the SEC!!
Reply29 months
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I’d like that.
Reply29 months
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Not suggesting Mason is the guy, but living in Nashville, can tell you he is known as a players coach, developer of men and was placed in an impossible situation where Vandy only pays lip service toward investing in its football program. They guy can coach defense if placed in the right situation.
Reply29 months
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Hard to win at a school that puts a female placekicker on the team for publicity and not merit.
29 months
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Start in 2010 and look at the schools... this guy can coach. He can recruit. He can do what O needs - run a defense. We all witnessed what Zac Chnningham did at Vandy. That was 1 very good player on defense. Now give him LSUs talent.
Reply29 months
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Y’all comparing HC success to coordinator success? Y’all rantarded. Two totally different functions. Man can be a helluva DC. Question is, does he want to come here for one year
Reply29 months
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Come on let’s be fair God cannot win at Vandy . Mason is a leader of men a motivator a role model that players play for . The players did not respond to Bo, the SEC has changed over the years .
Reply29 months
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Exactly. Who gives a damn what he did at Vandy? Do we want an HC or an elite DC? Because he was killing it at Stanford before taking the Vandy job. He’d be a helluva get.
29 months
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All the bash on Mason I think is overboard! His record at candy has nothing to do with him as DC at LSU! He didn’t have the athletes LSU has and I think he would be a good recruiter and DC! Would I rather a younger up and coming brand name Yes but I don’t think Mason would be a bad coach!
Reply29 months
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great thought hope we get him
Reply29 months
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Marcus Freeman is the way to go
Reply29 months
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The next Flavor of the Month! The guy has nowhere near the experience required to be the D.C. of an major SEC contender. You were probably a Tom Herman fan? He has never been a D.C., has never coached at a Power 5 school, and has never recruited in the Southeast, and never had players recruited from the top echelon of CFB athletes. Ohio St. offered Freeman the LB coach position, what makes you think he's ready to take the reigns of a school like LSU - Big Difference! We need a proven winner as our D.C. not a development project... hoping that he will prove to be qualified...
29 months
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Sheeeeit. Pass.
Reply29 months
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Is this a joke
Reply29 months
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Good coach. Better man. Had candy playing well a couple years back
Reply29 months
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Why he played receiver
Reply29 months
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no one who coaches Vandy for a number of years will have a winning record. He is a very good coach.
Reply29 months
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James Franklin
29 months
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yes he is a great choice
Reply29 months
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A winning program requires having coaches that can, effectively, relate to and communicate with this generation of players. That allows the players to be most productive and disciplined. That is what Champion athletes are made of. To be a student athlete at Stanford and Vanderbilt with high academic standards requires the utmost discipline for athletes. Most of the former student athletes from those type programs are very successful outside of sports, but were aided greatly by coaches and mentors like Mr. Derek Mason. Those who help make life champions can help make football champions. It does not necessarily work the other way around.
Reply29 months
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rob62
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Stop the SJW/BLM crap. Mason is a terrible choice and this woke crap will be the desth of college football. You see all these “mean old whiteys” who have supported these programs will just leave it to you racist nitwits. There is no reason for anyone to support Derek Mason other than he makes the RACIST BLACK crowd feel better anout themselves. Here is some truth for you. None of these blacks have been mistreated and if somebody doesn’t like you for whatever reason, so damn what? Mason is not a good choice and his being black has zero to do with ir. He is a bad choice plain and simple.
29 months
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BK785
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@rob62......he is a better coach than Orgeron. Mason has a losing record because he coached at Vandy. What was Orgeron's record at Ole Miss? LSU still gave him a chance. Give Mason a chance with LSU athletes and I like his chances.
29 months
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@rob62 are you mad that you missed a klan meeting or something they’ll be others. You do realize that LSU has black coaches already right?
29 months
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