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Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

Derek Mason, Mark Hudspeth among potential Vanderbilt coach candidates

Mason and Hudspeth are a couple of names to keep an eye on as Vandy’s search gets into full swing.

Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason and UL-Lafayette head coach Mark Hudspeth could emerge as candidates to replace James Franklin at Vanderbilt, according to CBS Sports' Bruce Feldman. SB Nation's Steven Godfrey and Football Scoop also are reporting that Vandy could stay in-house by hiring defensive coordinator Bob Shoop or offensive line coach Herb Hand.

Mason has been the associate head coach and co-DC at Stanford since 2011. He also has some NFL assistant coaching experience. Hudspeth has won nine games at ULL in each of his three seasons there, capping all of those campaigns with New Orleans Bowl victories.

Both Shoop and Hand have been at Vanderbilt for several seasons and could make the transition to a new coaching staff easier on the players in Nashville. They might also help the Commodores better hold together the recruiting class they’ve assembled up to this point.

Hand has never been a head coach at the college level, while Shoop has three years of experience as the head man at Columbia, where he compiled a 7-23 record from 2003 to ‘05.

More from SB Nation college football:

To die at the Rose Bowl: Spencer Hall on the last BCS Championship

Plot twists and the ends: Bill Connelly on the Championship’s numbers

Florida State: The SEC’s worst nightmare

How FSU and Auburn were built: Why recruiting matters so much

College football news | Timeline: Bobby Petrino’s decade of scandal

Long CFB reads | The death of a college football player

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