The lone senior on this year's Top 25-ranked men's tennis team, Tad Maclean has been an integral part of the Tigers' recent surge in the world of college tennis.
The doubles All-American, who hails from Torquay in Devon, England, has an enviable resume compiled while competing in the best conference in college tennis: two-time NCAA doubles qualifier, ITA Southern Region singles finalist, ITA All-Americans and Fall Nationals competitor, and, of course, NCAA finalist.
Maclean and fellow Englishman Finn Murgett were ranked No. 26 entering the 2021 NCAA championships in Orlando, but they defeated four nationally ranked opponents from Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Southern Cal and Pepperdine to advance to the national finals match, losing a heartbreaking three-set tiebreaker to Tennessee by a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 13-11 score.
"Playing down in Orlando was my second time playing in NCAAs," Maclean says. "I played in NCAAs my sophomore year with Brandon Laubser and lost to the No. 1 seed in the second round, so going back was a great experience for me.
"And to go a step further and further each time with my teammate Finn, who's also from England, was great. I'll definitely remember that forever. It was great to be around those guys who are the best in college tennis and to see what the level is like at the top. I feel like the week as a whole was a bit of a story making it to the final – it was great."
One of the top 50 players in Great Britain when he came to Auburn in January, 2018, and the second youngest ever from that nation to earn a professional ATP point, Maclean still experienced a bit of culture shock joining the world of college tennis.
"When I was being recruited here, to be honest, I didn't quite grasp what the SEC was until I got here. I think that's the case for a lot of internationals and you don't really realize the athletics tradition that actually goes on in these schools."
Maclean, who ranks among the Auburn career top 15 in doubles (68) and combined (132) wins and has posted nearly 40 of those career wins against SEC competition, says he had excellent mentors to guide him through the rigors of playing on this stage, his coaches Bobby Reynolds and Chris Hooshyar.
"I chose Auburn because, when Bobby came over to watch me the first time in England, I actually lost, so I had plenty of time to speak with him afterward. I got chatting with him, I really liked him and he saw a bit of potential in me.
"Bobby was among the top 60 in the world, and I wanted to play for a coach who had a lot of experience as a player. He really helped me a lot straightaway with the doubles – I feel like that was a big area of my game that needed improving. Bobby also made a career of maximizing all the potential he had which is a big thing for me – I started to re-learn the basics and re-train my body.
"Chris came to our team in my second year," Maclean recalls. "He came over to England to watch me in a couple of tournaments while he was recruiting and I got to spend a lot of time with him. I love his passion on the court – that's gotten me through a lot of matches and he's helped a lot with my serve, which is a big part of my game being a tall guy, and the volleys, which are a big part of doubles.
"Playing under both of them has definitely helped me so much on the court and off the court and I've loved my time here. They made me a better player and a much better guy off the court."
"Tad has been an instrumental piece in the building of Auburn men's tennis," Coach Reynolds says. "It seems like yesterday I was jumping on a plane to go watch a 16-year-old lefty play tennis in the countryside of England. I knew at first sight that he had the potential to achieve some great goals, but Tad has far surpassed my expectations on and off the court.
"It's amazing to see the man Tad has become; all of his tennis accomplishments pale in comparison to his character and integrity as a person. His way of learning in pictures and written explanations has made me a better coach. Tad has left an everlasting mark on Auburn tennis."
Assistant coach and fellow Englishman Chris Hooshyar agrees. "I'm so proud of Tad. He's a perfect example of how college sports can help you grow on and off the court; he's taken full advantage of his tennis and schooling.
"I'm grateful to have been able to work with Tad, and he has provided some of the best moments of my coaching career. I will miss my time with him, from his never backing down from a challenge to always being up for a laugh. I'm excited to see where his future takes him and I look forward to us having a good friendship for a long time. He will be thoroughly missed – War Damn Tad!"
The War Eagle cry, game days in all sports, Toomer's Corner, passionate fans who form the Auburn Family – Maclean has found room for all that and more in his heart.
"This school has such a big history and tradition and I love the culture," Maclean admits. "I love the people and the fans who come out and watch all the sports. When I visited Auburn, that was the first time I was actually in America, and when I got to Auburn, I fell in love with the place straightaway, the people, the culture, the downtown – I love being in a college town and the atmosphere there compared to being in the city.
"And my teammates throughout the years have been great. The guys who hosted me I still keep in touch with now. My teammates have changed a lot over the years, being here four-and-a-half years, lots of different people from all over the world.
"I love this team this year as well and I love being part of it, especially being the only senior, it's a bit of a different role from the past few years. It's a different perspective but I've enjoyed taking on the older role and seeing these guys develop.
"I don't think my teammates realize how much they mean to me. I've loved my time here and can't wait to see how they do in the future."
And there are more changes in store for the honor roll student, who has been a regular fixture on the ITA Scholar-Athlete, SEC academic honor roll, AD honor roll and Dean's List at the Harbert College of Business. "I'll be graduating with my degree in accounting in May, and I've already lined up a job with Deloitte in Atlanta as a tax consultant."
A member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national student-athlete honorary, Maclean has been an involved part of the campus community, serving as a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and earning a spot on the SEC Community Service Team for his efforts.
"I think Auburn has more changed me than it's changed itself. I've grown up here. I came in when I was 17 years old. I was more of a boy then and I'm leaving a man. It's definitely prepared me right for life.
"The tennis program has changed a lot. My first year, we won one SEC match and we're already at five this year. The culture is great this year. We've got a lot of hard-working guys on the team and that's helped the culture. We've got a lot of talent coming in for the next year as well and I can't wait to see where the program's headed in the right direction from here. I'm grateful to have played my part in the program and where we're going. I can't wait to see where it ends up."
Love, beyond a tennis term, is at the heart of Maclean's Auburn experience.
"I love the atmosphere of the home matches. I love representing Auburn. I've already heard in my hometown, a tiny village in the middle of England, people coming up to me and saying 'War Eagle,' so that family network in the U.S. and internationally is crazy. I'll cherish that forever. It's meant everything to me -- I absolutely love this place."
