FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Minnesota Vikings enter the NFL Divisional Round this weekend as the No. 2 seed and play host to the Dallas Cowboys. Led by head coach Brad Childress, a former assistant at NAU from 1986-89, the Vikings staff is full of connections to Flagstaff and the Mountain campus.

Derek Mason, the defensive backs coach, brings 15 seasons of coaching experience on both sides of the ball and was exposed to the NFL through the Minority Coaching Fellowship program in 1996 with the St. Louis Rams, 2000 with the NY Giants and 2006 with the Oakland Raiders. He joined the Vikings staff in 2007, working with defensive backs coach Joe Woods. He played at NAU from 1987-91.

As a player, Mason was a 2-year starter and 4-year letterman at Northern Arizona, where he was teammates for a season with Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and played under Larry Kentera and Steve Axman. During Mason's playing days at NAU, the Lumberjacks' staff included future NFL head coaches Brad Childress, Marty Mornhinweg and Bill Callahan. A native of Phoenix, Mason attended Camelback High School.

Mason joins Childress, Bevell, Pat Morris (offensive line) and Jeff Imamura (Quality Control/Defense/Linebackers) that make up the NAU North connection in Minnesota. Morris was an assistant at NAU in 1978, while Imamura worked at the school from 2000-02.

Former NAU assistants Andy Reid (Eagles) and Mike Shanahan (Redskins) are among the five former Lumberjack assistants who are or have been NFL head coaches. Callahan (Assistant, 1987-88) coached the Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII and is currently on the New York Jets staff facing the San Diego Chargers this week. Reid and his offensive coordinator Morninweg (Assistant, 1988, 1994), who coached the Detroit Lions, were eliminated by the Cowboys last week. Former player and assistant Brian Stewart (1986-87, Player; Assistant, 1995) also served on the Eagles staff this season.

Former NAU Players and Coaches in the NFL
Darrell Bevell, Minnesota Vikings (NAU Player, 1989)
K.J. Gerard, Baltimore Ravens (NAU Player, 2004-08)
Jeff Imamura, Minnesota Vikings (NAU Assistant, 2000-02)
Derek Mason, Minnesota Vikings (NAU Player, 1987-91)
Marty Mornhinweg, Philadelphia Eagles (NAU Assistant, 1988, 1994)
Pat Morris, Minnesota Vikings (NAU Assistant, 1978)
Frank Pollack, Houston Texans (NAU Player, 1986-87; Assistant 2005-06)
Dante Scarnecchia, New England Patriots (NAU Assistant, 1979)
Brian Stewart, Philadelphia Eagles (NAU Player, 1986-87; Assistant, 1995)
Ken Zampese, Cincinnati Bengals (NAU Assistant, 1992-95)