Derek Mason has made the higher-ups at Vanderbilt very happy people.

One of them, vice chancellor David Williams, expressed his approval for the job Mason has done this season in a letter posted to the school’s athletic website Tuesday.

Williams discussed the Commodores’ entire athletic performance last weekend but wrote at length about Mason reaching his first bowl game by upsetting then-No. 17 Tennessee in a rivalry game.

“If you have watched our football program as I have, you cannot miss the progress that is occurring on the playing field. While our record is 6-6, our last two victories over the University of Mississippi and the University of Tennessee were clear evidence that the decision to place our football program under the leadership of Coach Mason was, in fact, the right decision. If you were at the last game, during the senior recognition ceremony you would have witnessed the recognition of 26 academic seniors with their parents. This serves as even more evidence that our football program is in great hands with Coach Derek Mason at the helm.

The Chancellor and I, as well as the entire athletic department, are proud of the job Coach Mason has done and we are certainly proud of these young men who wear the Black & Gold. We are looking forward to Coach Mason leading us to an outstanding bowl experience and more success in upcoming football seasons. Coach Derek Mason is a Commodore!”

Vanderbilt went 6-6 with a 3-5 mark in SEC play, Mason’s best record during his three years in Nashville. Back-to-back wins against Ole Miss and the Volunteers to close the season made the Commodores bowl eligible and took Mason off the hot seat.

They also won him some favor with the university’s vice chancellor.