GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 07: Head coaches Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores and Jim McElwain of the Florida Gators shake hands after the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

Rising SEC coach signed to multi-year contract extension

The university sees steady improvement.

Derek Mason has improved Vanderbilt's win total in the last two seasons, and the school is rewarding him with a three-year contract extension.

According to The Tennessean, Mason and several assistant coaches all received extensions and raises. Vanderbilt is a private institution, so they don't have to reveal the exact terms of the deal.

Mason made $2.5 million in 2015, so he will make more than that over the next few years.

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The Commodores went 3-9 and 4-8 in Mason's first two seasons, but they improved in 2016 and made a bowl game. Vandy finished the year 6-7, and they lost to N.C. State in the Independence Bowl.

Vanderbilt athletics director David Williams has been pleased with the program's trajectory under Mason.

"We went to a bowl game in his third year, but it's not only that," Williams said via The Tennessean. "You could see the growth in the program overall. This year will be the first year that we actually have the type of depth that we would like to have, and I think Derek is a master at developing players."

Mason is only 13-24 overall and 5-19 in the SEC, but the Commodores picked up impressive wins over Georgia, Tennessee and Ole Miss in 2016.

Mason will look to build on 2016's success as they take on Middle Tennessee to start the 2017 season.

(h/t Saturday Down South)