AUBURN, Ala. – As half of one of the best men's tennis double tandems in the country, Tad Maclean became accustomed to competing in front of energetic fans.
That's why Maclean was cool and composed while receiving the Cliff Hare Award Saturday before Auburn's season opener vs. Mercer with 85,000 attending at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"To be in Jordan-Hare is amazing," Maclean said. "Hearing about the heritage and prestigiousness of the award. I'm so glad to be able to be chosen."
Maclean received the award from the grandson of its namesake, who shares his grandfather's name. Auburn's stadium was named in 1949 to honor Clifford Leroy Hare, who played on Auburn's first football team in 1892 and later served as dean of chemistry and president of the Southern Conference, which would become the SEC. Inscribed on the award are these words: "Athletics makes men strong, study makes men wise, and character makes men great."
"To win this award means everything," Maclean said. "Especially after meeting Cliff and speaking to him. There are so many deserving athletes."
On the court, Maclean teamed with fellow Englander Finn Murgett to reach the finals at the 2021 NCAA doubles championship. He ended his career this spring ranking seventh in Auburn history with 74 doubles victories and 11th in combined wins with 140.
Maclean and Murgett went 10-2 against SEC opponents this season, earning All-America status for the second consecutive year.
Presented annually since 1958, the Cliff Hare Award honors a senior student-athlete for academic and athletic success as well as leadership, integrity and courage. Maclean became just the second tennis student-athlete recipient, joining Estevam Strecker, the 2002 Cliff Hare Award winner.
"That was something that was preached early on from Bobby (Reynolds) and Chris (Hooshyar), both my coaches," Maclean said. "They definitely helped me develop the leadership aspects."
A 2022 honors graduate in accounting from Auburn University's Harbert College of Business, Maclean works for Deloitte in Atlanta doing international tax consultancy.
"Enjoying it," Maclean said. "It's definitely a lot different than being on the court. Great people there. I'm grateful for Auburn and everyone involved here to give me the opportunity. Being on the court definitely prepared me for the September tax deadlines.
"Being a good teammate and being surrounded by good teammates. That definitely meant the most to me along the way. Those are the things you take with you forever."
Cliff Hare Award Winners
Year Athlete, Sport
1958 Jimmy Phillips, Football
1959 Lloyd Nix, Football
1960 Henry Hart, Basketball
1961 Ed Dyas, Football
1962 Don Machen, Football
1963 Layton Johns, Basketball
1964 Mailon Kent, Football
1965 Billy Edge, Football
1966 John Cochran, Football
1967 Bobby Beaird, Football
1968 Marvin Tucker, Football
1969 Al Griffin, Football
1970 Connie Frederick, Football
1971 Alvin Bresler, Football
1972 Pat Sullivan, Football
1973 Mike Neel, Football
1974 Benny Sivley, Football
1975 Bobby Davis, Football
1976 Rick Neel, Football
1977 Gary Schatz, Swimming
1978 Marvin Trott, Football
1979 Jeff Gray, Football
1980 Charlie Trotman, Football
1981 Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines, Swimming
1982 Edmund Nelson, Football
1983 Mark Dorminey, Football
1984 Randy Campbell, Football
1985 Gregg Carr, Football
1986 Rob Shuler, Football
1987 Yann Cowart, Football
1988 Rodney Bowman, Swimming
1989 Randy Hudson, Track
1990 Win Lyle, Football
1991 Geoff Answini, Swimming
1992 Chad Muilenburg, Football
1993 Karekin Cunningham, Football
1994 Stan White, Football
1995 Jay Waggoner, Baseball
1996 Patrick Nix, Football
1997 Wes Flanigan, Basketball
1998 Dameyune Craig, Football
1999 Casey Dunn, Baseball
2000 Mathew Busbee, Swimming
2001 Jeff Somensatto, Swimming
2002 Estevam Strecker, Tennis
2003 Ben Nowland, Football
2004 B.J. Jones, Swimming
2005 Caesar Garcia, Diving
2006 Doug Van Wie, Swimming
2007 Steven Segerlin, Diving
2008 Jay Moseley, Golf
2009 Glenn Northcutt, Golf
2010 Jordan Anderson, Swimming
2011 Dan Mazzaferro, Diving
2012 Corey Luckie, Baseball
2013 Ashton Richardson, Football
2014 T.J. Leon, Swimming
2015 Frazer McKean, Diving
2016 Justin Youtsey, Diving
2017 Joe Patching, Swimming
2018 Wesley Curles, Track
2019 Tommy Brewer, Swimming
2020 Jack Driscoll, Football
2021 Jordyn Peters, Football
2022 Tad Maclean, Tennis
🎾 🏆 @AuburnMTennis alum @tadmaclean wins the Cliff Hare Award.
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) September 4, 2022
Tad & @FMurgett were 2021 NCAA doubles runners up.
"To win this award means everything."#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/dhHMFiYlze
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer