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Vanderbilt Football: 9 potential head coach replacements for Derek Mason

By Dante Pryor

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 28: head coach Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores walks to the stadium with Tyler Steen #54 and Cole Clemens #74 prior to a game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 28: head coach Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores walks to the stadium with Tyler Steen #54 and Cole Clemens #74 prior to a game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Buffalo Bulls head coach Lance Leipold looks on during a warm-up before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Buffalo Bulls head coach Lance Leipold looks on during a warm-up before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

These coaches have built their programs from scratch

4. Lance Leipold, HC, Buffalo

Buffalo head coach Lance Leipold has paid his dues. Before building Buffalo into a MAC powerhouse, Leipold and Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater supplanted Mount Union as the standard program in D-III, winning six titles in eight years. Wisconsin-Whitewater was so dominant, Leipold had as many losses as titles.

Leipold is 35-32 in the MAC and looks headed for his second MAC title in three seasons. His ability to build a program should put him on Vanderbilt’s shortlist.

5. Jamey Chadwell, HC, Coastal Carolina

Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell helped transition the program from FCS to FBS, serving as offensive coordinator in 2017, becoming head coach in 2019. This season, the Chanticleers are off to their best start in its brief history after being picked to finish last in the Sun Belt. Chadwell has built the Chants with a powerful offense and ornery, stingy defense.

Chadwell would have to answer some questions about the NCAA violations during his time at Charleston Southern, but that should not hinder the 43-year old coach from getting hired.

6. Dave Clawson, HC, Wake Forest

Dave Clawson would likely see this as a lateral move. However, the lure of a larger SEC program might be too much for him to pass.

Coaches like Clawson are on this list because they are program builders and culture changers. He knows what it’s like to coach at a school with academic restrictions and a smaller football budget. Most of all, he has a reputation as a program builder. Clawson first built Bowling Green, then turned Wake Forest into a relevant competitive program.

Clawson might want the challenge of maintaining a program like Wake Forest, but gauging interest would be a good idea.

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