Vanderbilt working on new contract for Derek Mason

Vanderbilt is working on a new contract for football coach Derek Mason, according to an athletics department statement Thursday.

No terms have been finalized. The announcement’s timing comes less than a week before signing day, when Mason will ink his fourth recruiting class.

Mason has a 13-24 overall record and 5-19 SEC mark in three seasons. Last season, Vanderbilt posted a 6-7 record, which included a loss to North Carolina State in the Independence Bowl — the program's first bowl appearance since 2013.

In late November after Vanderbilt beat rival Tennessee, athletics director David Williams said Mason had more than one year remaining on his current deal. And Williams added, “I expect he’ll be here much more than that contract.”

And two weeks ago, Mason was reported as a possible candidate for the California coaching job. Mason dispelled that report and rumors later that day by tweeting, “Regarding Cal rumors....to my team, our fans & #GoldRush17, I’m firmly Anchored Down in Nashville. Let's Ride!”

RELATED

Vandy AD: Derek Mason will be here beyond this contract

Vanderbilt's Derek Mason says he's not going Cal

How Derek Mason turned around Vandy through doubt and tears

Derek Mason's first coaching job, mentor set his philosophy

Mason’s contract is not made public because Vanderbilt is a private institution. However, the university’s tax returns — which are filed about 16 months after the reported calendar year — reveal that Mason was credited with $2,556,877 in total pay during his 2014 debut season.

That included $2,381,056 base salary, $130,344 retirement and other deferred compensation, $26,957 non-taxable benefits and $18,520 in other compensation.

Mason’s turnaround was dramatic this season. Vanderbilt started the year with a 2-4 record, and Mason later said he feared his job was in jeopardy at midseason.

“But the second half of this season looked totally different, and we came through the other side,” Mason said in December before the Independence Bowl.

A 4-2 record in the final six games made Vanderbilt one of the hottest teams in the SEC. And Mason’s squad finished the season ranked No. 1 nationally in red-zone defense.

In other news, Vanderbilt will play a home-and-home series with Hawaii in 2022 and 2023, both schools announced Thursday. They will be the first meetings between the programs.

The first game will be Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. It will be Vanderbilt’s first game ever outside the continental United States. Game two will be in Nashville on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @AdamSparks.

DEREK MASON FILE

Family: Wife LeighAnne, daughters Makenzie and Sydney

Playing career: Northern Arizona University (defensive back, 1989-92)

Coaching stops: Vanderbilt (head coach, 2014-now); Stanford (defensive coordinator/DB coach/associate HC, 2010-13); Minnesota Vikings (asst. DBs coach, 2007-09); Ohio University (WRs coach, 2005-06); New Mexico State (WRs coach, 2004); Saint Mary’s (defensive coordinator, 2003); Utah (WRs/Special teams asst., 2002); Bucknell (DBs coach, 1999-2001); Idaho State (RBs coach, 1997-98); Weber State (WRs coach, 1995-96); Mesa Community College (WRs coach, 1994); Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix (asst. coach, 1993).

Vanderbilt records: 2014 – 3-9, 0-8 SEC; 2015 – 4-8, 2-6 SEC; 2016 – 6-7, 3-5 SEC.

Notable: Participant in NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program (1996 St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders; 1999 Philadelphia Eagles; 2008 Minnesota Vikings).