Tom Mason brings nearly 40 years of defensive experience to the Miners and completed his second season as UTEP’s defensive coordinator in 2017. Mason tutored three Miner linebackers who rank in the top three in tackles on the team.
Senior Alvin Jones (102 tackles) ranked tied for sixth in Conference USA, senior Dante Lovilotte generated 72 tackles and senior Julian Jackson notched 65 tackles. Jones, whose 8.5 tackles per contest ranked eighth in C-USA, became the first Miner since 2012 to top the century mark in tackles, while he’s led the defense in that department the last three seasons (2015, 2016 & 2017). Jones also ranked tied for 15th in sacks (4.5) and ranked fifth in sack yards (37). Jones’s tackle for loss (10.5) ranked 10th in C-USA, while his three fumble recoveries ranked tied for third in conference and 17th in FBS. Jones registered a pair of 15-tackle performances – the first came against Pac-12 program Arizona and against LA Tech on ‘Senior Day’.
Sophomore linebacker Treyvon Hughes, who came to UTEP as a running back prior to the 2015 campaign, and missed the 2016 season, was switched to linebacker during the 2017 spring season. Hughes started six games and generated 40 tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries. Hughes also registered a career high of 11 tackles against Rice and registered eight stops at Army.
UTEP’s pass defense (212.3 y/g allowed) and total completions allowed (215) each ranked tied for sixth in conference. The Miners allowed only 208 passing yards against WKU, who led C-USA and ranked sixth in FBS with 333.7 yards per game. The Miners also held the Hilltoppers to a C-USA only season-low 15 points as they averaged 28.2 points in eight league contests. WKU also tallied a season-low 287 yards of total offense as it averaged 399.8 yards per game. Prolific WKU quarterback Mike White, who led the league and ranked third in FBS with 3,826 passing yards, threw for a season-low 208 on 24 completions against the Miners’ defense.
UTEP allowed 213 passing yards against North Texas, which ranked second in C-USA in passing yards per game (284.9). The UTEP defense was one of three C-USA schools not to allow a long play of 70-plus yards.
UTEP’s defense also scored three touchdowns, the most since scoring four in 2008. The first came from true freshman nose tackles Trace Mascorro when he took a fumble 26 yards for a score at rival NM State. The second defensive trip to pay dirt came the next week at Army when Kahani Smith intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 52 yards for a pick-six. The last time UTEP scored defensive touchdowns in back-to-back games was in 2014. The third score came from Smith again, as he returned a fumble 45 yards (longest fumble return in C-USA during 2017 season) for a touchdown at North Texas. Smith was the first UTEP defensive player since 2007 to register multiple touchdowns during a single season.
In 2016, UTEP’s top three tacklers were linebackers as Alvin Jones led the squad with 93 stops. Dante Lovilotte ranked second (89 tackles) and Nick Usher ended his UTEP career ranked third (77). Jones was named Conference USA second team as a junior, while Usher earned an honorable mention. Mason also mentored Jayson VanHook, who was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team after tallying 36 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack in 2016.
Mason’s defense ranked third in C-USA in opponent first downs (22.1 per game) and ranked fifth in total defense (419.3 yards per game allowed).
Mason served as the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for Hawaii during the 2015 season. During his time with the Rainbow Warriors Mason mentored defensive lineman Kennedy Tulimasealii, who garnered All-Mountain West first team honors. Tulimasealii was featured on the preseason watch list for Polynesian Player of the Year and led the conference in tackles for loss with a season total of 18.5, ranking 16th in the nation. He racked up 63 tackles this season, including 42 solo stops. Tulimasealii finished the season ranked third in tackles among MW defensive linemen and notched eight quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Mason also helped inside linebacker Julian Gener finish the season with team highs of 95 tackles and 62 unassisted tackles, ranking sixth in the MW in tackles and third in solo tackles (27th in NCAA).
Prior to Hawaii, Mason was the defensive coordinator at SMU for seven years. During his tenure with the Mustangs he transformed the SMU defense into one of the nation’s best, helping the program regain its former glory while working under former UH head coach June Jones. Mason’s defense aided SMU to four consecutive bowl seasons and a narrow loss in the 2010 Conference USA Championship Game.
The Mustangs hit a new high with the defense under Mason’s guidance in 2012. The defense posted two shutouts, tied an NCAA interception record and ranked 15th in rush defense with just 118 yards per game. Mason’s D tied for third in takeaways (37), ranked second in fumble recov- eries for touchdown (16) and led the nation in interceptions for touchdowns (eight).
Mason guided numerous SMU players to all-conference honors, including cornerback Kenneth Acker, who was named all-American Athletic Conference (AAC) and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Five Mustang defenders earned All-Conference USA honors in 2012, with first-teamers Ja’Gared Davis and Margus Hunt, while the 2011 season saw eight SMU defenders earn all-C-USA accolades, highlighted by first-teamers Richard Crawford and Taylor Thompson.
The 2012 squad capped off its fourth consecutive year in a bowl, putting Mason’s defense on display in defeating Fresno State 43-10 in the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl. Highlighted by Hunt’s two-forced fumble, three-sack Co-MVP performance, the Mustangs held FSU to just 16 yards rushing.
SMU closed the 2011 season with a BBVA Compass Bowl win that saw the Mustangs limit Pittsburgh to just 10 rushing yards and a bowl-record-low six points.
The 2010 season saw Davis and Thompson tabbed all-CUSA first-teamers, with a narrow 16-14 loss to Army West Point in the Armed Forces Bowl. Mason’s defense limited the Black Knights to only 229 yards of offense despite the loss.
In 2009 Mason transformed SMU’s defense from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 and the results were immediate. In SMU’s 45-10 win over Nevada in the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl the Mustang defense held the Wolf Pack’s No. 1-ranked rushing offense to a season-low 137 yards—more than 200 below its average. Under his tutelage, SMU linebacker Chase Kennemer was named first team all-C-USA and seven other Mustangs were tabbed for honorable mention all-conference honors.
Mason arrived at SMU after spending seven seasons at Fresno State, where he coached linebackers. There he developed numerous standout linebackers including 2007 WAC Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Riley, 2006 first team all-WAC honoree Dwayne Andrews and 2003 first-teamer Bryce McGill.
Mason joined the Bulldog coaching staff in 2001 after spending one season as linebackers coach with the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL. He also spent time in the pro ranks as receivers coach for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League and as defensive backs coach for NFL Europe’s Scottish Claymores.
Mason boasts an extensive collegiate resume, having served as defensive coordinator (1999) and secondary coach (1998-99) at Nevada and defensive coordinator at both Northern Iowa (1997-98) and Boise State (1993-96). At Boise, Mason helped coordinate a Bronco defense that reached the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship Game and then served as Boise’s interim head coach from August through November 1996.
Prior to his time in Boise, he was defensive coordinator at Portland State (1982-86), helping lead the Vikings to four playoff appearances and two national championship games. He also served as the linebackers coach at Eastern Washington (1981-85) and was the defensive line coach at Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College (1978-80).
As a player, Mason began his career as a linebacker at Idaho before transferring to Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College. He finished out his playing career at Nevada from 1976-77. Mason received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and a Master of Science degree in physical education and post-secondary education from Eastern Washington.
Mason and his wife, Jami, have a daughter, Brenna.
