Derek Mason took big pay cut when leaving Auburn

There is some suspicious activity going on with Auburn’s football program, and Derek Mason’s exit to Oklahoma State is among the oddities. What’s even more notable about Mason’s exit is that he took a pay cut to go work for the Cowboys program.

Chris Becker of The O’Colly reported Monday that Mason is making $1.1 million per season in his 2-year deal with Oklahoma State.

BREAKING: Derek Mason’s contract at OSU has the terms of 2 years for $1.1 million per year. The official contract is still in works with legal per Oklahoma State.

Mason would be the highest paid coordinator in OSU history.

— Chris Becker (@bhris_cecker316) February 7, 2022

Though the contract makes him the highest-paid coordinator in OSU history, he’s making $400,000 (nearly 27 percent) less than what he was at Auburn.

Did Mason want out of Auburn so badly that he was willing to take $400,000 less to leave? Or was he asked to leave the program and that’s why he took the Oklahoma State job?

The answer is not known. But we do know that both of Auburn’s coordinators left the school about a week apart (offensive coordinator Austin Davis left for personal reasons). The administration is investigating the program, which seems like a way of saying the boosters are trying to push Harsin out. Maybe it’s best the coordinators got out while they still had a chance to land elsewhere.