Featured photo by Khori Williams
Story by Calvin White
MURFREESBORO, Tenn- Middle Tennessee announced Tuesday morning that the university has hired former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason to be the Blue Raiders’ next head coach.
In seven seasons at Vanderbilt, Mason compiled a 27-55 record and led the Commodores to two bowl appearances. Mason then made stops at Auburn and Oklahoma State as defensive coordinator.
Mason took a year off from coaching and spent the 2023 season as a color analyst on the SEC Network.
“I want you to know… you have a coach, a father, a teacher, an educator who’s all in the game,” Mason said. “The chips are all in at MTSU.”
The hire comes just nine days after MTSU fired previous head coach Rick Stockstill. Stockstill had been the head coach at MTSU for 18 seasons and was the fourth-longest tenured coach in college football.
“I was looking for something different than me,” MTSU athletic director Chris Massaro said about Mason’s personality compared to his own, “I felt like for the face of our program and football coach, we need that kind of personality. Derek was a perfect fit for that.”
Calvin White is the sports editor of MTSU Sidelines. If you have information for a story, you can contact him at wcw3f@mtmail.mtsu.edu. For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com. Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @mtsusidelines, or on X @MTSUSidelines.
