The SEC has just one new head football coach this year, three fewer than last season. This year’s newcomer is Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason, who previously was defensive coordinator at Stanford.
“I’m a fresh new face, only new head coach on the block,” Mason said Monday on his first visit to SEC Media Days. “Great thing is, I’m undefeated, so I’m feeling real good.”
Vanderbilt hired Mason after James Franklin left for Penn State.
Mason was on Stanford’s staff for four seasons, under head coaches Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw, and the Cardinal won 11 or more games in each of those seasons. Mason takes over a Vanderbilt program coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons under Franklin.
Mason sees obvious similarities between his former and current employers.
“The similarities between the two schools are evident: good academic institutions that play really good football,” he said.
“Vanderbilt is a great opportunity, a great job,” he added. “But my expectation is to push the envelope a little bit. We have to move past the idea of playing for nine wins. Nine wins, it’s really exceptional. At the end of the day, why have nine when you can have 10? Why settle for 10 when you can have 11? That’s the way I think.”
Mason’s success at Stanford made an impression on his new players.
“He’s had a lot of success at Stanford — you know, one of the top defenses in the country,” Vanderbilt safety Andrew Williamson said. “I feel like he’s got his own formula for success and is bringing that over here and implementing that.”
“I was extremely excited to hear that he was named our head coach,” Vanderbilt tight end Steven Scheu said. “We are bringing (offensive) philosophies just like (Stanford’s) to Vandy. Hopefully we can have similar success.”
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