Bio

Ken Mason has been head coach of the Viking Rodeo Team since 2006. In the 2021-22 competition season, Mason led the men's team to a sixth-straight title in the Ozark Region, and a third place finish at the College National Finals Rodeo. The women's team was reserve champions in the Ozark Region, and placed ninth at the CNFR. Missouri Valley was the only team in the NIRA to place both men's and women's teams in the top ten at the 2022 CNFR.

Mason has guided the men's program to 11 Ozark Region titles, and the women's program to three Ozark Region championships during his tenure. In 2010, the men's rodeo team finished as reserve National champion, while the women's team earned a reserve National championship in 2016 at the CNFR. In 2011 Mason was inducted into the University of Tennessee-Martin's Athletic Hall of Fame, was named the Ozark Region Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year, and received the 2011 National Coach of the Year award at the CNFR.

Mason’s rodeo career started in Iowa High School Rodeo where he won the state championship in bareback riding in 1991 and qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in both bareback riding and saddle bronc riding in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Mason graduated from the University of Tennessee-Martin with a bachelor’s degree in business. While attending UT-Martin Ken competed in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and team roping. His college championships consist of the following: NIRA Ozark Region Champion Bareback Rider in 1995 and 1997, NIRA Ozark Region Reserve Champion Bronc Rider in 1995, NIRA Ozark Region Champion All-Around Cowboy in 1995, and College National Finals Rodeo Qualifier in 1995 and 1997. Mason was a student assistant coach for UT-Martin’s rodeo team in 1997 and 1998. He was a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association and qualified for the Great Lakes Circuit Finals. In 2011, Coach Mason Mason and his wife, Kari, live in Marshall with their two daughters, Sydnee and Taylor.