[1] After graduating from high school, he attended Northern Arizona University, where he was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at cornerback.
[14] In 2012, Mason became the sole defensive coordinator for the Cardinal and was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
[18] With the hire, Vanderbilt is the first and only school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to have multiple minority head football coaches in its history.
[25] His second season saw moderate growth for Vanderbilt, culminating in a 4–8 record with numerous firsts for the young head coach.
[34] APR became a non-factor as the Commodores upset both Ole Miss and Tennessee at home in back-to-back games to end the regular season with a 6–6 record on the strength of three conference wins.
Mason's dancing on the sideline and post-game celebration after defeating Tennessee were widely shared on Twitter and ESPN.
[44][45] The 2018 season began with Mason considered on the hot seat, one of 10 coaches identified by ESPN to be facing this challenge.
[47][48] He is the first Vanderbilt football coach to beat the Tennessee Volunteers three years in a row since Dan McGugin did it in 1924, 1925, and 1926.
[52] During the COVID-19-shortened conference-only 2020 season,[53] Mason helped the program make history by introducing Sarah Fuller, the school's women's soccer goalkeeper, into a November 28 game against Missouri.
[60] Mason was announced as the 15th head coach of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team on December 6, 2023.