Report: State won't add new assistant, promotes Preston Mason

Texas State is opting for continuity this time around.

After outside linebackers coach Jordan Peterson left to accept the same position at New Mexico, Texas State head coach Everett Withers will reportedly not look to fill the position with an outside candidate.

First reported by CoachingSearch.com and confirmed by Daily Record, Texas State will promote graduate assistant Preston Mason to safeties coach in an official capacity while defensive coordinator Randall McCray will coach both the inside and outside linebackers.

Mason was already the de facto safeties coach, but was not listed as a full-time assistant. All the promotion did was expedite the process of Mason’s hire by one season as Withers planned on using the team’s 10th coaching slot next season to promote Mason. Mason has been alongside McCray side since 2013 at Gardner-Webb.

Maintaining the same coaching staff is likely the wise decision considering the off-season shuffling seen within the Bobcat coaching ranks. With about a month before the start of fall camp, it’d be a rushed process in trying to bring along a new assistant now. Whether Texas State uses its 10th slot in 2018 to hire an outside linebackers coach remains to be seen.

This is Texas State’s fourth overall coaching change since February.