Vanderbilt fires Derek Mason as football coach after seven losing seasons

Vanderbilt has fired Derek Mason after seven losing seasons as football coach, the university announced Sunday.

Mason has a 27-55 record, including a 0-8 mark this season against only SEC opponents. The Commodores have lost 12 consecutive SEC games.

Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch will serve as interim head coach until a replacement for Mason is named, according to Vanderbilt news release. The search for a new head coach will begin immediately. 

“On behalf of the entire Vanderbilt community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Coach Mason for his many years of dedication and service leading our football program,” athletics director Candice Lee said in a statement. “Derek cares deeply about the student-athletes under his charge. His tenure at Vanderbilt will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to our student-athletes, not only on the field, but in the classroom and as young people.”

Vanderbilt was Mason's first head coaching job, following a notable tenure as Stanford’s defensive coordinator. 

Mason had relative success at a program that’s experienced very little for several decades. He became only the second coach in program history to make two bowl appearances, finishing 6-7 in 2016 and 2018. And under Mason, the Commodores beat rival Tennessee three consecutive times for the first time since the 1920s.

But Mason never escaped the shadow of predecessor James Franklin, who had the best three-year record (24-15) at Vanderbilt in about 90 years. Dan McGugin, the program’s all-time wins leader (197-55-19) and a College Football Hall of Fame coach, went 23-6 in 1928-30.

“While this was a difficult decision, but I know this change is necessary," Lee said. "We wish Derek and his entire family the best.”

Mason’s contract is not public because Vanderbilt is a private university. But he had at least three years left on his deal. In 2017, Mason’s contract was extended to five years. And he received another contract extension in February 2019, though the terms were not released.

According to 2018 university tax returns obtained by The Tennessean, Mason was credited with $3.5 million in total compensation that year. His current salary and buyout are not available to the public.

Follow Adam Sparks on Twitter @AdamSparks.