NOTRE DAME, Ind. — After an extensive national search, Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman has tabbed Brian Mason to join his Notre Dame staff as the special teams coordinator. The hiring will be effective at the conclusion of the University’s standard employment process.
“In designing our staff, I want to surround our players with coaches who are excellent teachers, relentless recruiters and intentional in building relationships. I am excited to introduce Brian Mason as our special teams coordinator, as I know he will be a dynamic fit for our program.
“Brian is the best in his field, and has a proven track record of producing elite special teams units. We look forward to him bringing that edge to Notre Dame.”
Mason joins the Irish after spending five seasons at Cincinnati, including the past four as the special teams coordinator and snipers coach. He was named a finalist for 2021 Special Teams Coach of the Year by FootballScoop.com.
Mason’s units were key to Cincinnati recording the first 13-0 mark in school history in 2021, as the Bearcats won a second-consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship and advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl.
Mason was part of an undefeated regular season and AAC Championship in 2020, back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, the 2019 American Athletic Conference East Division Championship and consecutive bowl-game wins in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.
In 2021, Mason’s special teams units proved to be among the nation’s best. UC tied for the most blocked kicks in the nation with six, while ranking seventh in the country with three blocked punts. The Bearcats also ranked among the nation’s best punt return and kick return coverage units. UC ranked first in the AAC and No. 3 in the nation in punt return defense (1.53) and No. 2 in the AAC and No. 22 overall in net punting (41.7).
The Bearcats’ defense was outstanding as well, ranking fifth nationally in scoring defense (16.9) and No. 10 in total defense (318.4). The Bearcats also allowed only 4.3 yards per play to opponents, which was the third-fewest in the nation.
In 2020, Cincinnati finished 9-1, won the AAC Championship and played in the Peach Bowl – UC’s first New Year’s Six Bowl since 2009.
The Bearcats finished atop the 2019 AAC ranks in scoring defense for the second-straight season and ranked among the league’s top three in rushing and total defense.
The 2018 UC defense led the American in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense and ranked among the Top-15 in the NCAA FBS in all three categories.
Punter James Smith, a three-time All-American Athletic Conference selection, was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2018 and also earned spots on two All-America squads. UC led the American Conference and finished second in the NCAA FBS in net punting.
In addition to his on-field success with the Bearcats, Mason oversaw a recruiting operation which helped UC sign two-consecutive highly-rated recruiting classes ranked at the top of the American Athletic Conference.
In his recruiting role, Mason oversaw the day-to-day operations of the recruiting program including database management, organizing all official and unofficial visits, coordinating special events associated with recruiting, managing the current roster and recruiting budgets as well as administering all recruiting paperwork including transcripts and scholarship documents. He also assisted with football camps and coaches’ clinics.
Prior to joining the UC staff in 2017, Mason spent eight years coaching at Ohio State, Purdue, Kent State and Bluffton. He came to UC after two years at Ohio State as a graduate assistant coach, where he worked with the Buckeyes’ linebackers during the 2015 and 2016 campaigns.
Mason held positions at Bluffton (2009-11), Kent State (2012) and the 2013 and 2014 seasons as a graduate assistant coach on Darrell Hazell’s staff at Purdue University. He also worked with Hazel at Kent State.
A native of Zionsville, Indiana, Mason is a 2009 graduate of Denison University with degrees in economics and history. He spent two seasons as a running back with the football program before an injury forced him into coaching. He then spent his final two seasons in Granville as a student coach.
Mason has master’s degrees from Bluffton in education (2012), from Purdue in recreation and sports management (2014) and from Ohio State in Kinesiology, Sport Management (2016).
Mason and his wife Rachel were married in 2018 and have a son, Graham.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: October 26, 1986
Hometown: Zionsville, Indiana
Wife: Rachel
Children: Graham
Education: Denison (2009), Bluffton (2012), Purdue (2014), Ohio State (2016)
Year in Coaching: 15th
PLAYING CAREER
2005-06: Denison (Running Back)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL – POSITION
2007: Denison – Student Assistant
2008: Denison – Student Assistant
2009: Bluffton – Defensive Line
2010: Bluffton – Defensive Line
2011: Bluffton – Defensive Line
2012: Kent State – Graduate Assistant
2013: Purdue – Graduate Assistant
2014: Purdue – Graduate Assistant
2015: Ohio State – Graduate Assistant
2016: Ohio State – Graduate Assistant
2017: Cincinnati – Director of Recruiting
2018: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator/Snipers
2019: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator
2020: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator
2021: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator
2022: Notre Dame – Special Teams Coordinator
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL – BOWL
2012: Kent State (GoDaddy.com)
2015: Ohio State (Fiesta
2016: Ohio State (Fiesta – CFP Semifinal)
2018: Cincinnati (Military)
2019: Cincinnati (Birmingham)
2020: Cincinnati (Peach)
2021: Cincinnati (Cotton -CFP Semifinal)