Oklahoma State targeting Auburn’s Derek Mason to be defensive coordinator
By Matt Melton
Oklahoma State is targeting Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason in a similar role.
Coming off a 12-2 season that concluded with a 37-35 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma State is in the search for a new defensive coordinator after previous DC Jim Knowles left for the same role at Ohio State.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, the Cowboys appear to be targeting current Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason, whom Feldman described “has emerged as a strong candidate.”
Oklahoma State is targeting Auburn’s Derek Mason for defensive coordinator
Mason is coming off his first season as defensive coordinator at Auburn where his unit ranked 27th nationally in points allowed per game with 21.8.
Prior to Auburn, Mason served in a variety of roles at Stanford from 2010-13 such as defensive backs coach, defensive coordinator and associate head coach. However, most will likely know Mason’s name from his time at Vanderbilt where he served as the head coach of the Commodores from 2014-20, replacing current Penn State head coach James Franklin.
During his time at Vanderbilt, Mason led the Commodores to a 27-55 record, as well as a pair of bowl appearances in 2016 and 2018.
Despite Auburn’s struggles in 2021 going 6-7 with a loss to Houston in the Birmingham Bowl, the Tigers defense was solid under Mason with no performance more-notable than collecting a combined seven sacks against Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
The Tigers defense has already lost a few key names this offseason such as leading-tackler Zakoby McClain, Roger McCreary, TD Moultry and Smoke Monday to the NFL, but also return names such as Colby Wooden and Derick Hall.
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