Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
“Give us a chance to pour into you” - Q&A with New Head Football Coach Derek Mason
12/10/2023 4:27:00 PM | Football
Staff Writer Sam Doughton chatted with Mason just after his announcement as MTSU’s 15th Head Football Coach
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It was a busy day for all in Middle Tennessee Athletics on Wednesday, but perhaps no one was busier than Derek Mason, who was introduced as the football program's 15th head coach to Blue Raiders around the world that morning.
Shortly after his first media availability as head coach of the Blue Raiders, Mason spent a few minutes with GoBlueRaiders.com Staff Writer Sam Doughton. The pair chatted about lessons Mason has learned in his year away from coaching, offensive philosophy, coming back to the Group of Five level after nearly two decades away and much more!
Check out their conversation below!
The conversation has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
--
You mentioned in your press conference about the year you spent away from coaching in 2023 doing TV for the SEC Network and how it reaffirmed you wanting to be back on the field. I know when Mack Brown was hired at UNC, he mentioned his time on TV as a great learning opportunity as he got back in the game. What are lessons that you're taking away from this past year as you start the MTSU job?
I think some of the biggest lessons that you learn is to focus on the things that matter, not the things that don't. (I got) perspective, you think you have to fix everything, but if you prioritize everything, nothing gets done. Because there's so much coming at you.
How to streamline recruiting, how to streamline practices. It all matters now-a-days when there's a lot of time devoted to a lot of external things. But the time on the grass is probably the most precious. You think that when you're coaching. But when you're out of coaching and you see coaches dealing with what they're having to deal with? Keep the main thing the main thing.
You were known for a running pro-style offense at a lot of places you've been. Not a common style of offense in the Group of 5. Of course, there's still hires to be made on that side of the ball that will affect this, but ideally, what type of offense are you envisioning to complement the type of defense you've historically been known for?
(Former Vanderbilt OC) Andy Ludwig at Utah really was what I wanted in a coordinator, then I got (Former Vanderbilt OC) Todd Fitch, who's now at Ohio State. Those last two guys really did a good job of helping me understand that you can be spread and multiple and be physical. But I think the ability to play from under center and gun are important.
How many times in third-and-one and fourth-and-one situations did you see this year where offenses got stopped because they were trying to run zone read? So, I think it goes back to what I said a little bit earlier as we were talking to the media. You have to have a mentality sometimes where your quarterback is under center, and the ball is coming downhill. And your offensive line has to move the line of scrimmage. There's time in third-and-short, or the redzone or wherever where you've got to punch it in.
And with the ability to punch the ball in it, as much as we're going to use the 53-and-third horizontally and stretch you vertically, play-action pass is still a huge part of the game, and it makes sense. If they're doing it at the highest levels, how come we can't do it at the collegiate level? 'Cause when you look at Georgia and Alabama, that's what they're doing.
Middle Tennessee under Rick Stockstill was known for a lot of Air Raid schemes on offense, particularly recently. Is it just a mentality adjustment for the players currently on the roster to go to a more run-heavy scheme or do you have to change some personnel to make that offensive philosophy work?
I think it's a mix. If you're just one thing, it makes it extremely easy when things don't go your way to be one-dimensional. I don't want to be one-dimensional. I want to have a coordinator who can adapt and adjust to our quarterback, or quarterbacks, because if your quarterback gets hurt, can the next guy come in? I want a coordinator for us offensively who understands we want to play an exciting brand of football. But we also want to be able to win the middle eight. We want to be able to win situational football that gets you to the championship.
Those teams that won (in Conference USA) this year, the two teams that made the championship (Liberty and New Mexico State), they could run the football. And if you look at Jacksonville State, there were really three. If the top three teams in the league are running the football, and everybody else is not, the top three teams are going to stay the top three teams.
At Middle Tennessee, we're going to have to find a way to be physical and own the line of scrimmage. Not only does it help you offensively, but it makes you a better defense.
It's been a minute since you've been in the G5. Your last stop outside the Power 5 or NFL was at Ohio from 2005-2006 under Frank Solich. What have you learned about how the G5 level has changed from some of your colleagues in the industry now that you're going back to it?
It's still the same. It's still really good football, extremely competitive. Always been developmental. I've talked to Tim Albin, the head coach that's at Ohio and Tim was the offensive coordinator when I was there. We all went with Frank Solich to Ohio University. Very similar. The MAC, Conference USA, all these teams are uber competitive. And the conference comes down to your two or three (best) players and how they play, because everybody is so equal in the conference.
As I've talked to Group of Five coaches and watched Group of Five football, it helps me understand that you still have to have good coaches, you still have to have good schemes. But now, the recovery, the nutrition, all those other things have caught up (to the Power 5). The resourcing in this, especially still having to play what people refer to as "money games," or playing up. The scheduling of those games and when they happen matters.
When you're looking at building your ideal assistant on your staff, what are the expectations you have for them and the mentality you want them to have?
I want teachers. I want builders of relationships. I want guys who understand that it's more than just a game. Football is a medium to get us from where we are to where we want to be. I think as I bring on coaches, they can't be a one-trick pony. If you're (just) a great recruiter, I can't do it. If you're (just) a great coach, I can't do it. If you've got a so-so personality, I can't do it.
We need a dynamic staff, because we want dynamic players. And so, what you pour in is what you get out. That's going to be required of every staff member and I'm good with that.
A number of starters who were expected to return to MTSU in 2023 are in the transfer portal at the moment. Many of them were also at your first team meeting Tuesday night. What was your message to them about what you're building here and what you want them to be a part of?
I told them it's legacy. Coach Stock, this is the house that Stock has built. Eighteen years, I think that's extremely important. When you come into a program, you've got to be really careful not to alienate the guys in the locker room. I've seen coaches say, 'You're going to do it this way, you're going to do it that way.' You've got to meet them where they are. And it's the speed of trust. Meet them where they are, listen to their stories.
And if they want to go in the portal? Look, everyone thinks the grass is greener on the other side. It's just green. For some, it may be great. For others? If you really don't want to be in the portal, don't be in the portal. Take a look, go through it. And you can always get back into it if you feel like this isn't the right opportunity for you. But give us a chance to resource you. Give us a chance to pour into you as best we can. Let's see where it takes us.
Shortly after his first media availability as head coach of the Blue Raiders, Mason spent a few minutes with GoBlueRaiders.com Staff Writer Sam Doughton. The pair chatted about lessons Mason has learned in his year away from coaching, offensive philosophy, coming back to the Group of Five level after nearly two decades away and much more!
Check out their conversation below!
The conversation has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
--
You mentioned in your press conference about the year you spent away from coaching in 2023 doing TV for the SEC Network and how it reaffirmed you wanting to be back on the field. I know when Mack Brown was hired at UNC, he mentioned his time on TV as a great learning opportunity as he got back in the game. What are lessons that you're taking away from this past year as you start the MTSU job?
I think some of the biggest lessons that you learn is to focus on the things that matter, not the things that don't. (I got) perspective, you think you have to fix everything, but if you prioritize everything, nothing gets done. Because there's so much coming at you.
How to streamline recruiting, how to streamline practices. It all matters now-a-days when there's a lot of time devoted to a lot of external things. But the time on the grass is probably the most precious. You think that when you're coaching. But when you're out of coaching and you see coaches dealing with what they're having to deal with? Keep the main thing the main thing.
You were known for a running pro-style offense at a lot of places you've been. Not a common style of offense in the Group of 5. Of course, there's still hires to be made on that side of the ball that will affect this, but ideally, what type of offense are you envisioning to complement the type of defense you've historically been known for?
(Former Vanderbilt OC) Andy Ludwig at Utah really was what I wanted in a coordinator, then I got (Former Vanderbilt OC) Todd Fitch, who's now at Ohio State. Those last two guys really did a good job of helping me understand that you can be spread and multiple and be physical. But I think the ability to play from under center and gun are important.
How many times in third-and-one and fourth-and-one situations did you see this year where offenses got stopped because they were trying to run zone read? So, I think it goes back to what I said a little bit earlier as we were talking to the media. You have to have a mentality sometimes where your quarterback is under center, and the ball is coming downhill. And your offensive line has to move the line of scrimmage. There's time in third-and-short, or the redzone or wherever where you've got to punch it in.
And with the ability to punch the ball in it, as much as we're going to use the 53-and-third horizontally and stretch you vertically, play-action pass is still a huge part of the game, and it makes sense. If they're doing it at the highest levels, how come we can't do it at the collegiate level? 'Cause when you look at Georgia and Alabama, that's what they're doing.
Middle Tennessee under Rick Stockstill was known for a lot of Air Raid schemes on offense, particularly recently. Is it just a mentality adjustment for the players currently on the roster to go to a more run-heavy scheme or do you have to change some personnel to make that offensive philosophy work?
I think it's a mix. If you're just one thing, it makes it extremely easy when things don't go your way to be one-dimensional. I don't want to be one-dimensional. I want to have a coordinator who can adapt and adjust to our quarterback, or quarterbacks, because if your quarterback gets hurt, can the next guy come in? I want a coordinator for us offensively who understands we want to play an exciting brand of football. But we also want to be able to win the middle eight. We want to be able to win situational football that gets you to the championship.
Those teams that won (in Conference USA) this year, the two teams that made the championship (Liberty and New Mexico State), they could run the football. And if you look at Jacksonville State, there were really three. If the top three teams in the league are running the football, and everybody else is not, the top three teams are going to stay the top three teams.
At Middle Tennessee, we're going to have to find a way to be physical and own the line of scrimmage. Not only does it help you offensively, but it makes you a better defense.
It's been a minute since you've been in the G5. Your last stop outside the Power 5 or NFL was at Ohio from 2005-2006 under Frank Solich. What have you learned about how the G5 level has changed from some of your colleagues in the industry now that you're going back to it?
It's still the same. It's still really good football, extremely competitive. Always been developmental. I've talked to Tim Albin, the head coach that's at Ohio and Tim was the offensive coordinator when I was there. We all went with Frank Solich to Ohio University. Very similar. The MAC, Conference USA, all these teams are uber competitive. And the conference comes down to your two or three (best) players and how they play, because everybody is so equal in the conference.
As I've talked to Group of Five coaches and watched Group of Five football, it helps me understand that you still have to have good coaches, you still have to have good schemes. But now, the recovery, the nutrition, all those other things have caught up (to the Power 5). The resourcing in this, especially still having to play what people refer to as "money games," or playing up. The scheduling of those games and when they happen matters.
When you're looking at building your ideal assistant on your staff, what are the expectations you have for them and the mentality you want them to have?
I want teachers. I want builders of relationships. I want guys who understand that it's more than just a game. Football is a medium to get us from where we are to where we want to be. I think as I bring on coaches, they can't be a one-trick pony. If you're (just) a great recruiter, I can't do it. If you're (just) a great coach, I can't do it. If you've got a so-so personality, I can't do it.
We need a dynamic staff, because we want dynamic players. And so, what you pour in is what you get out. That's going to be required of every staff member and I'm good with that.
A number of starters who were expected to return to MTSU in 2023 are in the transfer portal at the moment. Many of them were also at your first team meeting Tuesday night. What was your message to them about what you're building here and what you want them to be a part of?
I told them it's legacy. Coach Stock, this is the house that Stock has built. Eighteen years, I think that's extremely important. When you come into a program, you've got to be really careful not to alienate the guys in the locker room. I've seen coaches say, 'You're going to do it this way, you're going to do it that way.' You've got to meet them where they are. And it's the speed of trust. Meet them where they are, listen to their stories.
And if they want to go in the portal? Look, everyone thinks the grass is greener on the other side. It's just green. For some, it may be great. For others? If you really don't want to be in the portal, don't be in the portal. Take a look, go through it. And you can always get back into it if you feel like this isn't the right opportunity for you. But give us a chance to resource you. Give us a chance to pour into you as best we can. Let's see where it takes us.
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