Mason accepts athletic director position at Danbury High School

by Engra Patt-Mason

Coach Michael Mason is known by many as coach, friend, dad, motivator, inspirer, and the lists goes on. Being an individual that continuously preaches to his student/ athletes by striving to do their best, he’s a man that practices what he preaches.

Recently, Coach Mason obtained his Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Texas A & M - T e x a r k a n a University and graduated with a cum laude distinction. After a disappointing outcome when not selected as the Athletic Director/Head Football coach in Daingerfield where he’d coached for sixteen years, Coach Mason was torn about leaving the place he’d called home for so long. Mason said, “I feel as though I let my kids down.”

Remembering what he has always instilled in his student-athletes, never stop striving to reach your goals, Mason did just that. He applied for a few AD/HFC positions and received some call backs. One in particular, at Danbury ISD, had made a few attempts to reach Coach Mason by phone, but had no luck. Superintendent Greg Anderson informed Coach Mason that he started to discard his application and proceed with other applicants, but he felt he needed to make contact with him for some odd reason. So, he immediately emailed Coach Mason asking would he be interested in coming in for an interview. Excitedly, Coach Mason accepted.

Having already researched Danbury’s athletic program, academics, and demographics, Coach Mason stated he’d applied for the position intentionally because he loves a challenge. After accepting an interview, he reached out to S u p e r i n t e n d e n t Anderson to express his thoughts about if the community of Danbury would welcome a minority coach for their athletic program. Superintendent Anderson stated, “We are looking for the most qualified person that seems to be a good fit for our program and can take our students to the next level.”

And, the rest is history. Coach Mason wowed the committee, and they unanimously voted to recommend him to the school board. On May 5, the school board voted Coach Michael Mason in as the new Athletic Director/Head Football Coach at Danbury ISD. In their recent realignment, Danbury is 3A Division 2. The community hosted a reception for Coach Mason and his wife, Engra on May 11 where several parents, students, and members of the community came out to welcome them to Danbury. Coach Mason is eager to get started and hopes to introduce a little of East Texas football to Southeast Texas.