Larry Mason
Director of Player Development

Coach Mason and his family are long-term residents of the state of Iowa and currently reside in West Des Moines. Coach Mason’s primary focus is his family and giving back to the community. He has been actively involved in directing and coaching AAU youth and high school basketball for the past 17 years, coaching at Des Moines East High School and founding and running the Iowa Elite AAU Basketball Program from 2010-2022. 

Coach Mason started his high school athletic career at Des Moines Roosevelt where he was a 4 year varsity player.  He was received All-State and All-Conference recognition, and was honored to be selected to participate in the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic in 1993.

On top of his success on the gridiron, he was also a successful multi-sport athlete, demonstrating his high level athleticism on the court and the track. After high school, Coach Mason attended Iowa Central Community College where he was ranked as high as 6th in the nation as a running back, while also participating in basketball his freshman year.

Due to his success at the Community College level, he was offered multiple scholarship opportunities to attend and play football at Kansas State, the University of Hawaii, Southeast Missouri State, and Ole Miss. He chose to attend Southeast Missouri State, and shortly after signing with them, his college career unfortunately ended quickly as he tore his ACL.

After this life-changing event, he made the tough decision to move back home to Iowa and start his family and coaching career. As an entrepreneur, he worked in multiple industries, but never lost his love of competition and athletics. He was able to become the assistant varsity boys basketball coach at Des Moines North High School, then furthered his experiences by taking coaching positions with West Des Moines Valley as varsity football assistant and sophomore head basketball coach, and also with the WDMLPYFL football league as a head coach.

In 2020, he became Head Basketball Coach at Des Moines East High school and in the 2022-23 season, led them to their best record in 16 seasons.  In 2023, he resigned from this position to be able to commit more to the growing Ignit basketball family and the players in it.