Lindhurst coach Mason stepping down

The man who revitalized the Lindhurst High football program, and who many say instilled pride in the athletic program, in the student body and in the community at-large, is stepping down as head coach.

Mike Mason made the announcement official today, ending a six-year run that turned a program from a perennial doormat into a perennial power.

"I appreciate the special recognition, but obviously it took a lot of people to accomplish those goals," Mason said.

"I feel blessed to have had such great athletes and to find coaches to help me teach these kids football and instill some pride in them."

Mason plans to endorse his offensive coordinator, Scott Albertson, as his replacement. Albertson played for Mason at Mesa Verde, has been a coach for 13 years, and as fate dictated not that long ago, is now his nephew by marriage.

"But that has nothing to do with it," Mason said. "Scott has some exceptional abilities."

The hiring process, however, is open to all applicants.

Mason compiled a 42-28 record at Lindhurst. The Blazers were 29-8 in league play, won three Golden Empire League championships and are the two-time defending Sac-Joaquin Section Div. VI champions.

A shot at a three-peat, however, was not enough to convince Mason to come back.

"I always told myself that if I ever got to the point when I could not put 100 percent into it every day, and it's a year-round program, that I would step down," Mason said.

That realization came in recent weeks.

"At some point I decided I couldn't invest the same amount of time and energy to the program, so I have to step down. It's time to find some younger bodies to do this job," said the 60-year-old Mason, who has been coaching football in one form or another for 40 years, including 20 at the high school level.

Lindhurst was his first varsity head coaching job.

He knew coming into the position about the history of the program, and to a broader degree, the somewhat troubled reputation of the region.

Mason said he never believed those impressions, especially after meeting then-principal Dean Miller.

Apparently, Miller had the same instant respect.

"I was surprised initially because Dean Miller .... had made a decision even before my wife and I came up for the interview," Mason said.

That interview also came after Mason had spoken to Scott Turner about coming on to his staff at Sutter, and discussions about working at Yuba City High. Mason also had conversations with several coaches who tried to convince him Lindhurst was poison.

"But I liked the challenge," Mason said. "And I wouldn't change any of it."

Still, even Mason was surprised when the Blazers went to the playoffs his first season. In fact, it was not until his fourth year that he felt the program had reached its zenith.

"What Mike was able to do was get kids to buy into a new philosophy of football ... and they knew they would be held accountable," Lindhurst athletics director Tim Bradbury said.

Bradbury said that went far beyond the gridiron as Mason also insisted on accountability in the classroom and with behavior.

Once the wins started to pile up, the enthusiasm became contagious throughout the campus. The rippling effect helped other coaches get new athletes, academic aspirations were higher, and the community also responded, Bradbury said.

The turning point for Mason may have been the death of his mentor and friend, Mike Gebhardt, for whom Mason was an assistant on two section championship teams at Mesa Verde.

Mason admits Gebhardt's passing last summer weighed heavily on him. It also started him thinking about his own mortality and the other things he wanted to do.

"I don't know how many more years I have left, and I want to spend more time with my wife, more time with my (five) children and more time with my (15) grandchildren," said Mason, who is looking for a school administrative position next fall.

"My little 5-year-old granddaughter, she says 'Papa, can you take me to Disneyland in the fall?'" Mason said.

The family has been taking the trip for many years, and Mason has never been able to go.

"This year, I want to do that."