Mason enters his third season with the Colts as the team's special teams coordinator. He has 15 years of coaching experience.
Punter Rigoberto Sanchez had a career year in 2024 as he recorded 68 punts for 3,382 yards (49.7 avg./42.6 net avg.) with 27 pinned inside the 20-yard line. He ranked fifth in the NFL in gross punting average, while setting the franchise single-season record. Sanchez finished seventh in the league in net punting average. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 6 after compiling five punts for 271 yards (54.2 avg./48.4 net avg.) with three pinned inside the 20-yard line against the Titans. Sanchez set single-game career highs in gross and net punting average (minimum three punts).
Additionally, kicker Matt Gay converted 31-of-37 field goals and 33-of-33 extra points for 126 total points. He tied for seventh in the NFL in field goals made.
In 2023, Mason worked with Gay, who converted 33-of-41 field goals and 35-of-36 extra points for 134 total points. Gay made eight field goals of 50-plus yards, which ranked second in single-season franchise history and tied for third in the NFL in 2023. In Week 3 at Baltimore, he converted 5-of-5 field goals and one extra point for 16 total points. Gay became the first kicker in NFL history to make four 50-plus-yard field goals in a single game. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance.
Sanchez returned after missing the entire 2022 season due to injury. He registered 68 punts for 3,281 yards (48.3 avg./42.3 net avg.) with 21 punts pinned inside the 20-yard line. Sanchez recorded no touchbacks in 2023 and was the only punter in the NFL to accomplish that feat (min. 50 attempts). It also marked the first time in the Indianapolis era a Colts punter had no touchbacks in a single season (min. 50 attempts).
In Week 13 at Tennessee, safety Nick Cross blocked a punt that was recovered by linebacker Grant Stuard and returned for a touchdown. The Colts were one of only four teams to register a blocked punt in 2023 and were the only team to return one for a touchdown.
Prior to Indianapolis, Mason spent the 2022 season as the special teams coordinator at Notre Dame. He was named the 2022 FootballScoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year after the Fighting Irish special teams unit tallied seven blocked punts, which tied for first in the nation. Mason's unit recorded at least one blocked punt in five consecutive games, including two against UNLV. Notre Dame compiled 291 punt return yards, which ranked eighth in the nation. The Fighting Irish ranked first in the country in average starting field position (33.4). Mason was part of a coaching staff that helped Notre Dame to four victories over AP top-25 teams, including a win against South Carolina in the Gator Bowl.
Mason spent five seasons at Cincinnati as the special teams coordinator (2018-21) and director of recruiting (2017). He worked with punter James Smith, who earned All-AAC honors in each of the three seasons under Mason (First Team in 2018, Second Team in 2019 and 2020).
In 2021, Mason was a finalist for the Special Teams Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop after he helped the team to an undefeated regular season and reach the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Cincinnati's special teams unit ranked tied for first in the nation in blocked kicks (six) and seventh in blocked punts (three). Additionally, the Bearcats ranked third in the nation in opponent punt return average (1.53). Cincinnati ranked second in the AAC in net punting (41.7).
Mason was part of a coaching staff that led Cincinnati to a 9-1 record and an AAC Championship in 2020. The team played in the Peach Bowl, which was the Bearcats first New Year's Six bowl since 2009.
In 2018, the Bearcats led the conference in net punting and finished second in the FBS (44.3). Mason worked with Smith, who was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award and earned First Team All-AAC accolades after he tallied 59 punts for 2,750 yards (46.6 avg.) with 25 pinned inside the 20-yard line. His 46.6 average ranked fourth in FBS and was the second-best single-season mark in program history.
Mason spent the 2017 season as the director of recruiting. His responsibilities included overseeing the day-to-day recruiting operations, organizing official and unofficial visits, coordinating recruiting events and managing the roster.
Prior to joining Cincinnati, Mason served as a graduate assistant at Ohio State (2015-16), Purdue (2013-14) and Kent State (2012). He worked with an Ohio State team in 2015 that won the Fiesta Bowl.
He began his coaching career as a defensive line coach at Bluffton from 2009-2011.
Mason attended Denison University and played running back for two seasons (2005-06) before suffering an injury and transitioning into a student assistant role his last two years (2006-07).
He graduated from Denison with degrees in economics and history and received a master's degree in education from Bluffton in 2012, a master's degree in recreation and sport management from Purdue in 2014 and a master's degree in kinesiology, sport management from Ohio State in 2016.
A native of Zionsville, Ind., Mason attended Zionsville Community High School. He is married to his wife, Rachel, and they have two sons, Graham and Noah.
2009-2011 | Bluffton | Defensive Line
2012 | Kent State | Graduate Assistant
2013-2014 | Purdue | Graduate Assistant
2015-2016 | Ohio State | Graduate Assistant
2018-2021 | Cincinnati | Special Teams Coordinator
2022 | Notre Dame | Special Teams Coordinator
2023-2025 | Indianapolis Colts | Special Teams Coordinator
