Clik here to view.
With the SEC football season just a few months away, here’s a look at how the conference’s coaches rank in 2016.
Bio: Derek Mason joined Vanderbilt’s staff in 2014 after gaining a reputation as one of the nation’s top defensive coordinators while at Stanford. Mason was a finalist for the Broyles Award — given to the nation’s top assistant coach — while guiding the Cardinal to a No. 1 ranking in total defense among Pac-12 teams in 2012.
Mason’s tenure and Vanderbilt has been far less successful, but his defense has shown steady improvement during his first two seasons. The Commodores ranked sixth among SEC teams in total defense and scoring defense — which saw them rank last in 2014.
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
|---|---|
| 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 (DB) |
| 2010 | Stanford (DB) |
| 2011 | Stanford (AHC/Co-DC/DB) |
| 2012–2013 | Stanford (AHC/DC) |
| 2014–present | Vanderbilt |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 7–17 |
| Statistics College Football Data Warehouse | |
Reason For Ranking: Mason’s ranking may be the most controversial of any coach so far, but he managed to move up two spots from last year’s No. 14 ranking after Vanderbilt showed improvement down the stretch in 2015.
There’s no denying that Mason inherited a gutted program after James Franklin’s departure and pillaging of his first recruiting class. The Commodores were the worst team in the SEC in 2014 and looked helpless on both sides of the football.
But Mason’s team showed signs of life in 2015. Vanderbilt’s defense has developed much faster than its offense, which shouldn’t be a surprise with a defensive-minded head coach. But the offense should be improved after finding some stability late last season and gaining more experience after a lack of depth forced many underclassmen into bigger roles.
2016 Schedule:
| Date | Opponent | |||
| Thursday Sep. 1 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
South Carolina Gamecocks Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN |
||
| Saturday Sep. 10 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN |
||
| Saturday Sep. 17 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA |
||
| Saturday Sep. 24 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Houchens-Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, KY |
||
| Saturday Oct. 1 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
Florida Gators Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN |
||
| Saturday Oct. 8 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
at Kentucky Wildcats Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, KY |
||
| Saturday Oct. 15 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
at Georgia Bulldogs Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA |
||
| Saturday Oct. 22 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
Tennessee State Tigers Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN |
||
| Saturday Oct. 29 |
— | OFF | ||
| Saturday Nov. 5 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
at Auburn Tigers Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL |
||
| Saturday Nov. 12 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
at Missouri Tigers Faurot Field, Columbia, MO |
||
| Saturday Nov. 19 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
Ole Miss Rebels Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN |
||
| Saturday Nov. 26 |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
Tennessee Volunteers Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN |
||
2016 Outlook: Vanderbilt’s offense throughout Mason’s tenure can be summed up in two words: Ralph Webb. Though he doesn’t get the same media attention as LSU’s Leonard Fournette, Georgia’s Nick Chubb or Tennessee’s Jalen Hurd, Webb has quietly been one of the SEC’s best running backs for the past two seasons and deserves credit for carrying Vanderbilt’s offense.
Throughout Mason’s first two seasons the Commodores have struggled to find consistency at quarterback. But rising sophomore Kyle Shurmur showed glimpses of his four-star potential late in 2015 and should remain under center if he can stay healthy.
Vanderbilt’s defense isn’t a cause of concern. If anything, the Commodores would have ranked higher if their offense — save Webb — could have stayed on the field and didn’t allow opposing teams to get great field position at the start of drives.
Vanderbilt should find more consistency on offense than it has in the past two seasons. It’s unlikely that the Commodores will contend for an SEC East division title, but they should be much more competitive and could be a fringe bowl team at season’s end.
The post SEC Coaching Rankings: No. 12 Derek Mason appeared first on Today's "U".