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Vanderbilt has parted ways with head football coach Derek Mason, per Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee.
We are parting ways with head coach Derek Mason. 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.
— Candice Storey Lee (@VandyAD) November 29, 2020
Mason had been Vanderbilt’s head coach since 2014, compiling a 27-55 record. The real issues were a 10-46 SEC record, and a 3-17 record since a bowl appearance in 2018. That included an 0-8 mark in 2020, and the firing came a day after a 41-0 loss at Missouri. Mason went 3-3 against Tennessee but combined to go 5-22 against annual opponents South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ole Miss.
Additional details are unknown at this time. We will have updates as more information becomes available. Vanderbilt will play at Georgia on Saturday and also still has to play Tennessee, possibly on December 12. It is not clear at this time who will coach the team for the remainder of the season. (UPDATE: it’s Todd Fitch.)
Vanderbilt fires Derek Mason. OC Todd Fitch will serve as interim coach
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 29, 2020
We assume Vanderbilt will conduct a national search for a new head coach.