New Vanderbilt safeties coach Marc Mattioli was a defensive graduate assistant under Derek Mason at Stanford in 2012 and 2013. Mattioli transitioned to a quality control role with the Cardinal in 2014, and then got a call from Mason during the off season to come coach the safeties in Nashville.
Mason has a certain level of comfort with his new safeties coach because the two already have experience working together, and Mattioli understands the defense and the expectations.
"Marc is one of the bright young defensive minds in college football today. I was very impressed during our time together at Stanford," Mason explained the day Mattioli was officially hired.
"Marc also has great command of our defense and truly understands my expectations for how the Vanderbilt defense should perform."
Looking at this one minute clip of Mattioli coaching guys up during spring ball, it's easy to see what Mason was thinking when he brought him on board; he attacks drills with a ton of energy, and knows exactly what Mason is looking for in the secondary. Both of which will be very valuable in Mason's second season.