Wayne State University Athletics

Joel G. Mason began his 32-year career at Wayne State in 1946 as an assistant football coach. In 1948, he became the Tartars' head basketball coach. Mason's 18-year basketball coaching career was highlighted in the early 1950's when he brought WSU into Midwest contention. The Tartars won 17 consecutive games in 1955-56 and made it into the NCAA finals at Iowa City, Iowa. They were tough, defeating DePaul 72-63, before falling in the second round to Kentucky, 84-64. Mason coached such basketball greats as Noah Brown, Ernie Wagner, Johnny Kline, George Duncan, and Charlie Primas. He compiled a 186-173 record in his 18-year tenure and is still cited as the winningest coach in WSU basketball history. "The Count," as he was affectionately referred to by his players, also had an outstanding athletic career of his own. Mason played football for Western Michigan and then entered the professional ranks, playing seven years for the Chicago Cardinals and the Green Bay Packers. He was known as the "other end" for Green Bay as he played split end opposite Football Hall of Famer, Don Hutson. Mason also played professional basketball during the off seasons for the Sheboygan Redskins, then one of the top pro teams which has since become the Atlanta Hawks. Mason, who also served as golf coach and men's coordinator at WSU, was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame in 1979 before retiring from the University.