Search committee member John Ingram told The Tennessean that Mason would be announced as coach later today and officially introducted Saturday.
Earlier Friday, the Stanford defensive coordinator said that he was meeting with Vanderbilt via Skype and was hopeful of getting an official offer. He interviewed for the position Thursday.
“Who’s not going to say yes?” he said Friday about the potential of being offered the job to replace James Franklin, who left the Commodores for Penn State last week.
Mason came to Stanford in 2010 as an assistant coach after coaching defensive backs for the Minnesota Vikings for three seasons. He also has stops at Ohio, New Mexico State, Saint Mary’s, Utah, Bucknell, Idaho State and Weber State on his resume.
MORE ACCOLADES FOR MALZAHN
Auburn's Gus Malzahn has been named national coach of the year by the Over the Mountain Touchdown Club.
The Birmingham group announced the winner Friday. Malzahn led Auburn to a 12-2 record and into the BCS championship game against Florida State in his debut season.
The Tigers' turnaround from a 3-9 season matched the biggest in FBS history.
The other finalists were Duke's David Cutcliffe, Baylor's Art Briles, Michigan State's Mark Dantonio and Florida State's Jimbo Fisher. The winner is chosen by the touchdown club and members of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
It's the fifth time the award has been presented. Former Auburn coach Gene Chizik won in 2010.
Bowden, a former Florida State coach, will present the award on March 2.
NEBRASKA ADDITION
Air Force defensive coordinator Charlton Warren has been hired to coach Nebraska's secondary.
Coach Bo Pelini on Friday announced the hiring of the replacement for Terry Joseph, who left two weeks ago to become secondary coach at Texas A&M.
The 37-year-old Warren is the Cornhuskers' fourth secondary coach in five years. He was on Air Force's staff for nine years, the past two as associate head coach and defensive coordinator.
The Falcons ranked third nationally in average passing yards allowed and sixth in pass efficiency defense in 2011. Air Force started two sophomores, a junior and senior in the secondary in 2013 and ranked 78th in pass defense.
Warren played defensive back at Air Force, graduating in 1999. Nebraska did not release salary information.
EIU ADDS COORDINATORS
Newly-arrived Eastern Illinois football coach Kim Dameron has hired the first two members of his staff.
Dameron said Friday in a news release that Greg Stevens will be the Panthers' new offensive coordinator and Kane Wommack is the new defensive coordinator.
Stevens was the offensive coordinator last season at Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions averaged 483.3 yards and 38.4 points a game while making it to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Stevens previously worked as an assistant coach at Delta State, Utah State, Stephen F. Austin and Arkansas-Monticello.
Wommack comes from Ole Miss where he was an assistant working with the safeties. He previously coached at Jacksonville State and Tennessee-Martin.
Dameron was hired last week to replace Dino Babers after Babers left to become head coach at Bowling Green.
Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press
