Derek Mason Position: Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Experience: Third Season Alma Mater: Northern Arizona '92

Coaching Career

The 2012 season will mark Derek Mason's third season on Stanford's coaching staff and his second in the position of associate head coach and defensive coordinator. He will continue his work with the team's secondary personnel.

In his first season as associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator, Mason teamed with Jason Tarver to mold Stanford into one of the top defensive units in the Pac-12 Conference in 2011. The Cardinal ranked either first or second in the conference in six defensive categories, including rushing defense (1^st; 84.4), third-down conversion defense (1^st; 31.1), scoring defense (2^nd; 21.9), total defense (2^nd; 337.6), sacks-per-game (2^nd; 3.00) and opponent first downs (2^nd; 17.5).

Stanford finished third nationally in rushing defense, sixth in third down conversion defense (31.0; 51-164) and 11^th in sacks per game (3.00).

Outside linebacker Chase Thomas was named a Sporting News All-American in addition to earning first team all-conference honors. Strong safety Delano Howell also earned first team all-conference marks, despite missing three games with injury.

Thomas and Howell were two of five Stanford players who earned all-conference marks last season, a list that included defensive end Ben Gardner (second team), safety Michael Thomas (honorable mention) and defensive end Matt Masifilo (honorable mention).

Mason made an immediate impact on Stanford's secondary unit in 2010. Under his guidance, Stanford ranked third in the Pac-10 and 35^th nationally in pass defense, allowing just 202.0 yards per game. Stanford also ranked second in the Pac-10 and was tied for 19^th nationally with 18 interceptions, its highest total since the 1996 season (19).

Under Mason's tutelage, Delano Howell earned second team all-conference honors while senior cornerback Richard Sherman was an honorable mention selection and was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

Prior to his arrival at Stanford for the 2010 season, Mason served as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2007-09. He played a vital role in the team ranking No. 6 in total defense in 2008 and '09 as the Vikings won NFC North titles each season. The defensive finishes marked the first time since 1993-94 the Vikings were ranked in the NFL's top-10 in consecutive seasons and won back-to-back division championships for the first time since 1977-78.

Mason was introduced to the NFL coaching circles through the Minority Fellowship program in 1996 with the St. Louis Rams and also spent time with the coaching staffs of the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders. He joined the Vikings staff in 2007, where he worked with defensive backs coach Joe Woods.

In 2009, the Vikings had their depth tested when two-time Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield was sidelined for six games and starting strong safety Tyrell Johnson missed a game. The Vikings called on Benny Sapp and Karl Paymah to fill in for Winfield and the team went 4-2 without their emotional leader of the backfield. Mason also worked with a pair of rookies, cornerback Asher Allen and safety Jamarca Sanford, who both earned starts at nickel back in place of Johnson. In a breakout season, cornerback Cedric Griffin led the team with four interceptions and the defensive backs racked up 3.0 sacks on the year.

In 2008, the Viking defensive backs were solid in pass defense and run support throughout the year. All five defensive backs who started along with two nickel backs posted interceptions during the season. The defensive backs' ability to play the run was a major factor in the Vikings leading the NFL in rush defense for the third straight year. Overall, the Vikings defense ranked No. 6 in the NFL, the team's highest ranking since 1994.

In 2007, Mason helped coach a defensive backfield that included Pro Bowler Darren Sharper, who finished the season tied for the team lead with four interceptions, including a return for a touchdown in an upset win over the New York Giants at Giants Stadium. Against the Giants, the Vikings set a team record with three interception returns for touchdowns, including a 93-yarder by Dwight Smith and a 20-yarder by Sharper.

Prior to joining the Vikings, Mason tutored the wide receivers at Ohio University under head coach Frank Solich and helped the Bobcats improve from 4-7 in 2005 to a 9-5 mark the following season, culminating in an appearance in the GMAC Bowl against Southern Mississippi. The Bobcats won seven straight games during the 2006 season, including a 20-17 win at Big Ten opponent Illinois. The team advanced to the Mid-American Conference title game against Central Michigan and its berth in the GMAC Bowl was its first since the 1968 Tangerine Bowl.

Mason spent the 2004 season as the wide receivers coach at New Mexico State, where he helped the Aggies lead the conference in passing. In 2003, he was the co-defensive coordinator/assistant head coach at St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif., where he helped defensive back Wes Boba earn All-America honors in the final season the Gaels fielded a football team.

During the 2002 season, Mason mentored the receivers and assisted with the special teams at the University of Utah. The Utes finished the season with two of the top 10 wide receivers in the Mountain West Conference and led the league in kickoff returns. During Mason's season at Utah, the team also featured the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft in quarterback Alex Smith and wide receiver draftee Paris Warren.

Mason's early stops in his coaching career included assignments at Mesa Community College (1994), Weber State (1995-96), Idaho State (1997-98) and Bucknell (1999-2001).

As a player, Mason was a two-year starter and four-year letterwinner at Northern Arizona. During his playing days at NAU, the Lumberjack coaching staff included three future NFL head coaches in Brad Childress, Marty Mornhinweg and Bill Callahan.

A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Mason attended Camelback High School. Derek and his wife, Leighanne, have two daughters - Makenzie and Sydney.