Michigan State Remembers Ron Mason
6/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Michigan State Board of Trustee Member / Former Michigan State Athletics Director and head football coach George Perles:
"Ron Mason was a super friend. I can't say enough about him -- we all loved him. Loyalty was his bottom line; everything he did was about loyalty. He treated his players like they were his own sons. They played as hard as they could for him because they had so much respect for him. He was a remarkable coach, but even with that said, a great father.
"Ron took the hockey program and made it nationally prominent. He was good to those kids and got them through school. He had a tremendous record of his players going through school and graduating; that was very important to him. He's one of the great coaches we've ever had at Michigan State. I was proud to have him as a friend."
Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon:
"Coach Mason defined what it means to be a Spartan. His relentless quest for excellence on and off the rink made everyone around him better. He truly created a Spartan hockey family in which the focus was on collective success rather than worrying about who received credit. That drive translated into great accomplishments on the ice and in life for all those fortunate enough to work with or play for him."
Michigan State Director of Athletics Mark Hollis:
"I first met Ron when I was a student here in the early 80s. I admired him as a coach and leader at that time and developed great respect for his commitment to success and student-athletes. Having the opportunity to work for Ron in my transition to the athletics director's chair was invaluable. He was a great person and a great friend."
Michigan State hockey coach Tom Anastos:
"It's truly a sad day for the hockey world. Not only was Ron a legendary figure at Michigan State, but his contributions to college hockey were remarkable. I loved learning from his competitive spirit and his relentless commitment to excellence. Being a part of the championship teams he created here at MSU was truly special and something I'll have forever. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Marion, his daughters, Cindy and Tracey, and all of his family."
Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio:
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mason family during this most difficult and trying time. I got to know Ron when I first came to MSU in 1995. At that time, he had established himself as one of the most legendary coaches in college hockey, winning with class both on and off the ice. Ron reached the pinnacle by winning a National Championship, but perhaps his most impressive feat was the sustained success of the program he maintained for more than 20 years. He later served as our AD through 2007 and was instrumental in me becoming the head football coach here in 2006. He is undoubtedly one of the most revered figures in the history of Michigan State Athletics and will be greatly missed."
Media Coverage on the Death of Ron
Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo:
"Ron Mason was the ultimate coach's coach. Early in my career he went out of his way to mentor me and help me be successful. He showed us all a model of consistency necessary to build a tremendous program. As a coach on the outside looking in, I was always amazed at the way his former players loved and respected him, and the way they remained invested in the program. Spartan hockey was truly a family built on a tradition of excellence. It's a blueprint I've worked hard to duplicate within our basketball program. My prayers are with Marion and the entire Mason family in this very sad time.
"Not only has college hockey lost one of the game's true icons, Michigan State University and Spartan athletics have lost a legend."
Michigan State women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant:
"First and foremost your heart goes out to Marion and his family. I think there was no bigger legend here at Michigan State than Ron Mason. His impact not only as a hockey coach, but then as an Athletics Director was extremely impactful. A lot of the culture and the connection of Michigan State and its coaches is due to people like him and his commitment to the coaches here, the student-athletes and his love for Michigan State University. Just having the opportunity to work for and with Ron was special. To me, as a coach, you truly appreciate administrators who believe in your craft, knowing what it takes to win at the highest level. The fact that he had faith in someone coming up the small college ranks, I will always be indebted to him for the opportunity to be a part of the Spartan family."
Michigan State softball coach Jacquie Joseph:
"I am so sad to hear of Ron's passing. He was a true coach and a coaches' Athletics Director. He made all of us at Michigan State better."
Michigan State head swimming and diving coach Matt Gianiodis:
"I owe everything to Coach Mason. He put his faith in me and hired me to be head coach at MSU 13 years ago. The one thing about Coach Mason that really stays with me is his true professionalism. He didn't like bush-league effort or attitude. He was a real pro."
Michigan State men's tennis coach Gene Orlando:
"Coach Mason - thanks for your friendship, support and leadership at Michigan State. I'm forever thankful for the guidance and wisdom you shared with me throughout my career as men's tennis coach at MSU. You made a difference in many people's lives, especially mine. Your Spartan spirit lives on in all of us."
Michigan State director of track & field/cross country Walt Drenth:
"Ron had a hand in hiring me to the head track and field and cross country position as well as having the programs become combined. I am in debt to him for having faith in me, I am also grateful for the times, after he had retired, he would call or leave me a voicemail to congratulate the staff and I for success our student athletes were able to realize."
Michigan State men's soccer coach Damon Rensing:
"Coach Mason's record as a hockey coach speaks for itself. As a young coach I was able to learn at lot from him through observation and conversations on how to lead a team, any team. What Ron Mason, the athletic director, did behind the scenes for Olympic sports such as soccer should not go unnoticed. Our program's success has a few great influences, and Ron is certainly one of them."
Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss:
"I wasn't fortunate enough to work for or with Coach Mason, but he still had a dramatic impact on our baseball program. After being hired at MSU, one of the first phone calls I received was from Ron Mason. He welcomed me to the family and offered to help in any way he could and I get a sense of that's who Ron was. He loved Michigan State and we are all in a better place as a result of his leadership."
MSU assistant hockey coach Tom Newton:
"Today we lost a great leader, coach and friend. He had so much impact on so many young men. His love for the game of hockey, especially college hockey, was enormous."
MSU assistant hockey coach Kelly Miller:
"Coach Mason's passion for the game of hockey inspired me as a player and motivated me to become a coach. His knowledge of the game and the ability to teach it helped prepare players for the next level, while his energy and excitement for the sport made it fun for players to come to the rink every day. I will miss talking hockey with one of the great hockey coaches."
Rick Comley, Michigan State hockey head coach, 2002-11:
"When you think of Ron, you think of hockey, and specifically college hockey. He built three programs and loved the college game. The CCHA came about because of a dream and he took a lot of pride in helping it become one of the best conferences in the nation. He meant a lot to MSU athletics. His impact, not only at Michigan State, but in college athletics, is second to none."
Jason Muzzatti, Michigan State, 1987-91, current MSU goaltending coach:
"You think about Muhammad Ali and Gordie Howe passing away last week and it's ironic that Ron Mason has now left us -- he was like our Ali and Gordie at MSU. He had great character and was a winner. He'll be missed because he meant so much to all of us. I offer my condolences to his wife, daughters and entire family."
Mike York, Michigan State, 1995-99:
"When you think of Spartan hockey, he's the first guy that comes to mind. He's a legend. He was an unbelievable coach and deserves a lot of credit for my career. He was an awesome guy to be around and his stories were endless."
Jim Slater, Michigan State, 2001-05:
"Coach Mason was the main reason I came to Michigan State. He had a great mind for the game and when he walked into the room he had the attention and respect of everyone. Even after you were done at MSU, he would reach out and catch up to see how you were doing. He was the face of MSU hockey for a long, long time. "
Ryan Miller, Michigan State, 1999-2002:
"I'm very sad to hear Coach Mason passed. He was a huge influence on so many players. He introduced a lot of us to a higher level of expectation and that led us to understanding what it took to win. He prepared his teams well, and, at least for me, I feel like that preparation carried on into my day-to-day life as well as my approach to the game. I appreciate his lessons even more now that I understand them fully. Thanks for everything, Coach."
Brad Fast, Michigan State, 1999-2003, current MSU director of hockey operations:
"I feel privileged to have played for the best coach college hockey has ever known. The culture Coach Mason created still drives us former players to succeed today because there was nothing but a commitment to excellence accepted. Personally, he is the reason for the success and opportunities I have had through hockey and further. Michigan State Hockey is everything to me and Coach Mason is Michigan State Hockey."
Kevin Miller, Michigan State, 1984-88:
"Coach Mason was the best coach I played for during my career. He was a great teacher and a great friend. I will miss Coach and my prayers are with his family in this very sad time. The hockey world and MSU hockey has lost a true legend. RIP Coach Mason."
Anson Carter, Michigan State, 1992-96:
"Coach Mason stressed the model was commitment to excellence and that was not just on the ice, but off the ice. My biggest takeaway from Coach was how you carry yourself away from the rink and to treat people the way you want to be treated; I try to do that to this day. Fortunately, that's how I was raised and it was great to have it reinforced by Coach Mason."
John-Michael Liles, Michigan State, 1999-2003:
"Coach Mason was a huge part of my career; he made an impact on not only players but so many people. It's really pretty amazing the influence he had on college hockey and youth hockey in Michigan. I'm very fortunate to have had him as a coach at MSU and to have seen firsthand what it meant to be a Spartan - he taught that and he embodied it. I'm sure I can speak for a lot of players that played before me when I say that Coach Mason was the epitome of Spartan hockey and MSU athletics every day."
Rob Woodward, Michigan State, 1989-93:
"I'm shocked and saddened. Coach Mason never aged to me -- he was the same as when I was recruited. I'll miss seeing him around campus and the rink. I never had anyone teach me more about the game of hockey than him, and I think I actually realized it more so when I started coaching myself. He was an unbelievable guy to play for and for that I'm grateful that I came to Michigan State. He loved Michigan State University and he's a big reason why I love it, too."
Mike Gilmore, Michigan State, 1988-92:
"What can you say about someone who has changed your life for the better? He's one of the few people that believed in me; gave me a chance and stuck with me. Because of that my life is different in a good way. He didn't have a son, he had hundreds of sons. It's shocking - he went way too early. It's a sad day for Spartans everywhere."
Troy Ferguson, Michigan State, 1999-03:
"I was thinking about it today and all the former players like me that live in East Lansing and I'm so close with, everything we have -- families, jobs -- can be drawn right back to Coach Mason. If it wasn't for him, it wouldn't have happened. It's pretty incredible that we can draw back to one special guy like that and we can all thank him for what we have. All the special friendships we have go back to him. Michigan State hockey is Ron Mason."
