Derek Mason, the only Vanderbilt football coach to defeat Tennessee three consecutive seasons since the formation of the Southeastern Conference in 1933, is having his contract extended.
Vanderbilt athletic director Malcolm Turner announced Friday that extensions are being provided for Mason, men's golf coach Scott Limbaugh and bowling coach John Williamson. Limbaugh has guided the Commodores to five consecutive NCAA championship tournament appearances, while Williamson has coached his program to national championships in 2007 and 2018 and to a pair of runner-up finishes as well.
"We are excited to keep Derek, John and Scott on West End for years to come," Turner said in a release. "Their leadership remains vital to building Vanderbilt's consistent level of success. We look forward to continuing to find additional ways to help grow and support these and all of our varsity programs as we compete for championships."
Details of the extensions were not revealed by the university, which is the only private institution in the SEC. The Tennessean reported on Friday that Mason's annual salary as of 2016 was $2.8 million.
Mason has been Vanderbilt's coach for five seasons that have yielded a 24-38 overall record and a 9-31 mark in SEC play. His tenure got off to a difficult start, with the Commodores going 7-17 overall and 2-14 within the league his first two seasons, but Vanderbilt has earned bowl appearances in two of the three years since.
The only coaches in Vanderbilt history to make multiple bowl trips are Mason and predecessor James Franklin, who went 24-15 with three bowl appearances in his three seasons.
Yet not even Franklin could beat Tennessee three times in a row, which Mason has accomplished by scores of 45-34, 42-24 and 38-13. The 25-point margin this past November was Vanderbilt's largest over the Volunteers since winning 26-0 in 1954.
Vanderbilt's all-time leading passer and rusher - Kyle Shurmur and Ralph Webb - each played all four seasons under Mason.
Alabama sets games
Alabama and West Virginia announced on Friday a home-and-home series for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The 2026 game will be held in Morgantown, with the 2027 contest set for Tuscaloosa.
The Crimson Tide and the Mountaineers had never met until 2014, when Alabama prevailed 33-23 in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.