Ron Mason collected 924 victories over a 36-season head-coaching career while guiding the men's ice hockey programs at Lake Superior State University (1966-73), Bowling Green State University (1973-79) and Michigan State University (1979-2002). His win total ranks second in college hockey annals, while his winning percentage (.696, 924-380-83) is among the best all-time.

In 1966, Mason began the hockey program at Lake Superior State University. He led the Lakers to five NAIA tournaments in seven seasons, including a national championship in 1972.

Before departing LSSU for Bowling Green State University in 1973, Mason was instrumental in the creation of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, a powerhouse league in college hockey which endured for more than 30 years.

At Bowling Green, Mason turned the program into a national force. Under his direction, BGSU made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament (1977-79), won a trio of CCHA regular-season titles (1976, 1978 and 1979) and captured the league playoff title on three occasions (1977-79). His 1978-79 club finished with a school and then NCAA record 37 wins. Mason was named the CCHA Coach of the Year three times (1976, 1978 and 1979) during his six-year tenure with the Falcons.

Mason stepped behind the bench at Michigan State University in 1979 and during his 23-year stay as head coach, the Spartans were a perennial NCAA and CCHA power. MSU had two streaks of nine consecutive NCAA Tournament showings during his tenure (1982-90, 1994-2002). In the midst of its first run, MSU won the 1986 NCAA national championship. In addition, Michigan State won seven CCHA regular-season crowns (1985-86, 1989-90, 1998-99, 2001) and 10 CCHA Tournament titles (1982-85, 1987, 1989-90, 1998, 2000 and 2001) under Mason's guidance. Individually, Mason was named CCHA Coach of the Year four times (1985, 1989-90, 1999) and American Hockey Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 1992.

Collectively, Mason guided 22 of his teams to the NCAA Tournament, tied for second-best all-time.

Among the thousands of players Mason mentored were a pair of Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners in MSU's Kip Miller (1989-90) and Ryan Miller (2000-01), 35 All-Americans and more than 50 future NHL players.

Following his coaching career, Mason served as MSU's director of athletics from 2002-07.

He is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Michigan State, Bowling Green State, Lake Superior State and St. Lawrence University Sports Halls of Fame.