New coach Derek Mason says Vanderbilt hired winner, sets SEC East title as Commodores' goal

Derek Mason, center, walks to a news conference with Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos, left, and athletic director David Williams, right, where Mason is to be introduced as the new Vanderbilt football coach Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. Mason was previously the defensive coordinator at Stanford. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (The Associated Press)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Derek Mason wants to make a few things clear. He has plenty of experience recruiting in the South, hopes to finish his career at Vanderbilt and has very high goals for the Commodores.

Such as the Southeastern Conference East title.

Vanderbilt introduced its new football coach Saturday morning a week after starting a search to replace James Franklin, who left for Penn State.

Mason says the Vanderbilt job is where he wants to spend the rest of his career. He also says the Commodores will win because he understands college football is about winning and Vanderbilt hired a winner.

Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos says Mason won them over at his first interview.

Mason now has less than three weeks to salvage a recruiting class.