THE MASON FILE

PERSONAL

Year in Coaching: 18th in 2026
Year at K-State: First in 2026
Hometown: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Education: Appalachian State, 2013 (Bachelor's in History and Social Studies Education)
Wife: Marcie
Children: Jackson, Grady

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2010-12: Appalachian State (Student Assistant Coach)
2013: Gardner-Webb (Defensive Intern)
2014: Burns High School (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
2015: Gardner-Webb (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2016: Texas State (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2017: Texas State (Safeties)
2018: Texas State (Outside Linebackers)
2019-21: North Carolina (Defensive Analyst)
2022: Eastern Alamance High School (Defensive Backs)
2023: Seaforth High School (Defensive Backs)
2024-25: Texas A&M (Assistant Linebackers)
2026: K-State (Outside Linebackers)

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE

2019: Military Bowl (North Carolina)
2020: Orange Bowl (North Carolina)
2021: Duke's Mayo Bowl (North Carolina)
2024: Las Vegas Bowl (Texas A&M)
2025: College Football Playoff (Texas A&M)

Preston Mason is in his first season at Kansas State in 2026 coaching the outside linebackers. He came to Manhattan after spending the previous two seasons at Texas A&M, while he has also worked at North Carolina, Texas State and Gardner-Webb.

While in College Station, Mason helped Texas A&M to an 11-2 record and a trip to the College Football Playoff. The Aggies led the nation in third down defense (22.9%), while they ranked second in sacks (3.31 per game) and tackles for loss (8.5 per game), eighth in first down defense (205), 16th in passing yards allowed (177.6 per game), 18th in total defense (307.4 per game) and 19th in fourth down defense (41.2%). Mason assisted coaching the Texas A&M linebackers, which included the team leader in tackles in Taurean York, who earned All-SEC Third Team honors.

In 2024, Mason was part of an Aggie staff that helped produce an 8-5 record – including a program-best 5-0 start to SEC play – and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl. York again led the Aggies in tackles with 82.

Prior to working at Texas A&M, Mason was a defense analyst at North Carolina for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons, helping the Tar Heels earn third-consecutive bowl berths.

Mason went to North Carolina after three seasons at Texas State, serving as the outside linebackers coach in 2018 after coaching the safeties in 2017. Mason also was a graduate assistant coach with the Bobcats in 2016 and worked with the secondary.

While at Texas State, the Bobcats saw marked improvement on defense. After inheriting one of the worse defenses in the nation in 2015, Texas State finished 2018 ranked in the top half of the country in several key statistical categories, including significant jumps in scoring defense (+31 spots), takeaways (+48), total defense (+49), yards per play (+57) and pass defense (+87). In 2017, Texas State ranked among the nation’s top 45 in rushing defense (40th; 141.7 yards per game) and third down defense (43rd; 36.1%). Mason produced the team’s third-leading tackler in A.J. Krawczyk, who had 74 stops in his first season on defense after spending time as a running back and wide receiver the previous two seasons.

Prior to Texas State, Mason made two different stops at Gardner-Webb – as a graduate assistant coaching cornerbacks in 2015 and as a defense intern in 2013. While at Gardner-Webb, the Bulldogs posted the best defense in the history of the Big South and were one of the best defenses in the FCS. During his time on staff, Gardner-Webb held 13 different opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing.

In 2013, the Bulldog defense set several conference records, including holding opponents to 296.8 yards per game to rank fifth nationally, while their rushing defense of 122.5 yards allowed per game ranked 16th. Additionally, the Gardner-Webb pass defense (10th; 174.2 yards allowed per game) and pass efficiency defense (22nd; 114.0) ranked in the top 20. That season, the Bulldogs also led the league in opponent first downs (7th nationally; 185), third down conversion rate (11th nationally; 32.2%), fourth down conversion rate (2nd nationally; 25.0%) and sacks (2.25).

Between his stints at Gardner-Webb, Mason spent the 2014 season as the secondary coach and social studies teacher at Burns High School in Lawndale, North Carolina. He also was also a high school teacher and coach at Eastern Alamance High School (2022) and Seaforth High School (2023).

Mason attended Appalachian State from 2009 to 2013, spending the 2009 season as a video assistant before serving as a defensive student assistant for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 campaigns. While at Appalachian State, the Mountaineers won three Southern Conference championships, made four FCS Playoff appearances and advanced to the FCS Semifinals in 2009.

A native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Mason earned his bachelor’s degree in history and social studies education from Appalachian State in 2013. He and his wife, Marcie, have two sons, Jackson and Grady.