Staff Directory
Kari Mason
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Kari Mason returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach on the University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo staff in July 2026.
Mason comes back to the Skyhawk program after an extended era of success as an assistant coach at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. Alongside her husband Ken Mason, the Viking men's team won College National Finals Rodeo reserve national championships twice (2010 and 2025) and has captured 15 Ozark Region titles – including each of the last 10 championships. The Missouri Valley women's squad was 2016 reserve national champions at the CNFR and nabbed four Ozark Region titles during Mason's tenure (2006 to 2026).
The Viking men's team finished in the top-five at the CNFR eight times while the Missouri Valley women's squad posted five top-10 CNFR placements (all since 2015). On four separate occasions, Missouri Valley boasted top-10 finishes by both its men's and women's teams in the same year – accomplishing that feat in 2015 (men third, women ninth), 2021 (women sixth, men seventh), 2022 (men third, women ninth) and 2026 (men fourth, women 10th).
The Missouri Valley rosters churned out numerous professionals over the years and produced five individual national champions – including Kooper Heimburg (2026 bareback riding), Ty Pope (2022 bareback riding), Kirbie Crouse (2016 breakaway roping), Timothy O'Connell (2015 bareback riding) and Tanner Aus (2012 bareback riding). In addition, the Vikings accounted for six reserve national champions in Mason's tenure with those titles coming in bareback riding (four times), all-around cowboy (once) and goat tying (once).
Mason was responsible for all administrative tasks associated with Missouri Valley rodeo, including taking and sending team entries for 10 regional rodeos, handling eligibility verification and reporting for student-athletes, completing and submitting paperwork required by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, submitting purchase orders for all rodeo program purchases, preparing monthly credit card statements and keeping record of all team members' earned points to distribute travel money payments. She also oversaw four separate program budgets by managing expenditures and creating fundraising and other money management strategies. She collaborated with the coaching staff in coordination and facilitation of the Viking Stampede, hosted annually in late September. She was responsible for clerical duties required of the event, including fundraising, delegating performance responsibilities, coordinating contractors (announcer, timers, concessions, stock contractors, specialty acts, pick-up men, bullfighters, etc.) while marketing and maximizing the community impact.
Mason also served as a membership secretary for the Missouri High School Rodeo Association from 2012-16, streamlining the association membership process and providing support to new members by keeping membership information organized, processing applications and applicable paperwork, sending out membership card and back numbers necessary for competitions. She was a liaison between Missouri High School Rodeo and the National High School Rodeo Association in matters related to membership while also keeping the minutes at Missouri High School Rodeo board meetings.
A Chariton, Iowa native, Mason graduated from UT Martin with a degree in business administration management in 1998. She and Ken have two daughters, Sydnee and Taylor.
Mason comes back to the Skyhawk program after an extended era of success as an assistant coach at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. Alongside her husband Ken Mason, the Viking men's team won College National Finals Rodeo reserve national championships twice (2010 and 2025) and has captured 15 Ozark Region titles – including each of the last 10 championships. The Missouri Valley women's squad was 2016 reserve national champions at the CNFR and nabbed four Ozark Region titles during Mason's tenure (2006 to 2026).
The Viking men's team finished in the top-five at the CNFR eight times while the Missouri Valley women's squad posted five top-10 CNFR placements (all since 2015). On four separate occasions, Missouri Valley boasted top-10 finishes by both its men's and women's teams in the same year – accomplishing that feat in 2015 (men third, women ninth), 2021 (women sixth, men seventh), 2022 (men third, women ninth) and 2026 (men fourth, women 10th).
The Missouri Valley rosters churned out numerous professionals over the years and produced five individual national champions – including Kooper Heimburg (2026 bareback riding), Ty Pope (2022 bareback riding), Kirbie Crouse (2016 breakaway roping), Timothy O'Connell (2015 bareback riding) and Tanner Aus (2012 bareback riding). In addition, the Vikings accounted for six reserve national champions in Mason's tenure with those titles coming in bareback riding (four times), all-around cowboy (once) and goat tying (once).
Mason was responsible for all administrative tasks associated with Missouri Valley rodeo, including taking and sending team entries for 10 regional rodeos, handling eligibility verification and reporting for student-athletes, completing and submitting paperwork required by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, submitting purchase orders for all rodeo program purchases, preparing monthly credit card statements and keeping record of all team members' earned points to distribute travel money payments. She also oversaw four separate program budgets by managing expenditures and creating fundraising and other money management strategies. She collaborated with the coaching staff in coordination and facilitation of the Viking Stampede, hosted annually in late September. She was responsible for clerical duties required of the event, including fundraising, delegating performance responsibilities, coordinating contractors (announcer, timers, concessions, stock contractors, specialty acts, pick-up men, bullfighters, etc.) while marketing and maximizing the community impact.
Mason also served as a membership secretary for the Missouri High School Rodeo Association from 2012-16, streamlining the association membership process and providing support to new members by keeping membership information organized, processing applications and applicable paperwork, sending out membership card and back numbers necessary for competitions. She was a liaison between Missouri High School Rodeo and the National High School Rodeo Association in matters related to membership while also keeping the minutes at Missouri High School Rodeo board meetings.
A Chariton, Iowa native, Mason graduated from UT Martin with a degree in business administration management in 1998. She and Ken have two daughters, Sydnee and Taylor.
Friday, May 29
Friday, May 29
Friday, May 29
Friday, May 29
