Vanderbilt’s hire of Derek Mason means the FBS Coaching Carousel for the 2014 offseason might just be nearing its end.
The Commodores tapped Derek Mason to be its new head coach, replacing James Franklin, who left to take over at Penn State. Mason has spent 20 years working his way up the coaching ranks, but Vandy will be his first head-coaching job. His last job was at Stanford where he was David Shaw’s right hand man, coordinating the defense and coaching the defensive backs.
So now we have 20 FBS openings this offseason, but just two open jobs. It took Mason 10 different coaching stops in 20 years to get to Vandy.
It may not be a sexy hire, in terms of name recognition, but Vandy gets a coach who understands the academic-athletic paradigm that exists at a school like Vandy, since it also exists at Stanford. Plus, Franklin is leaving Mason something to build on, something Vandy hasn’t had in a while.
That means there is just one job to fill, for right now. Depending on who is hired, there could be more.
UAB: First, South Alabama coach Joey Jones wants you to know he’s staying at South Alabama. Oregon assistant John Neal has also opted not to interview. In terms of people who might want the job, AL.com confirmed that UAB was set to interview Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins and Cincinnati offensive coordinator Eddie Gran last week. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that former Tulane boss Chris Scelfo will be interviewed. Coachingsearch.com reports that Tommy Bowden might also get a look-see from the Blazers.
2014 FBS COACHING CAROUSEL
SCHOOL | OUT | IN |
Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) | Garrick McGee | TBA |
Arkansas State | Bryan Harsin | Bruce Anderson |
Army | Rich Ellerson | Jeff Monken |
Boise State | Chris Petersen | Bryan Harsin |
Bowling Green | Dave Clawson | Dino Babers |
Connecticut | Paul Pasqualoni | Bob Diaco |
Eastern Michigan | Ron English | Chris Creighton |
Florida Atlantic | Carl Pelini | Charlie Partridge |
Georgia Southern | Jeff Monken | Willie Fritz |
Louisville | Charlie Strong | Bobby Petrino |
Massachusetts | Charley Molnar | Mark Whipple |
Miami (OH) | Don Treadwell | Chuck Martin |
Penn State | Bill O’Brien | James Franklin |
Texas | Mack Brown | Charlie Strong |
USC | Lane Kiffin | Steve Sarkisian |
Vanderbilt | James Franklin | Derek Mason |
Wake Forest | Jim Grobe | Dave Clawson |
Washington | Steve Sarkisian | Chris Petersen |
Western Kentucky | Bobby Petrino | Jeff Brohm |
Wyoming | Dave Christensen | Craig Bohl |