Nick Clinard is in his 24th year overall as a head coach and 16th season with the Auburn men's golf team during the 2024-25 season.

The 2023-24 season proved to be the pinacle of the program's 76-year history as Clinard led the Tigers to one of the best runs in the history of college golf. Auburn racked up a jaw-dropping 10 tournament victories, including seven in a row to close out the year with both an SEC Championship and the program's first ever national title. The Tigers posted a 185-9-1 head-to-head record, which included a 46-1-1 record against SEC opponents. 

For the record-smashing performance, Clinard was awarded SEC Coach of the Year and the Dave Williams DI National Coach of the Year Award. 

Spearheaded by freshman sensation Jackson Koivun, Clinard's players swept nearly every award up for grabs during the spring of 2024. Following a dominant outing at the conference championship, Koivun became the third man in league history to be named both SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Player of the Year during at the same time. Three other Tigers also received All-SEC honors. Auburn put three players on All-Region and All-American teams. Koivun and Brendan Valdes were both named First-Team All-Americans, the program's first time with two men on the first team since 1995. Both Koivun and Valdes were selected to represent the United States at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup. 

Under the tutelage of Clinard, Koivun became the first player in the history of the sport to win all three national player of the year awards (Haskins, Hogan, Nicklaus) and the national freshman of the year award (Mickelson) in one sweep. 

Thanks to Clinard, the Auburn men's golf program saw one of the most successful stretches of its 75-year history during the 2022-23 season. Not only did the Tigers finish top-10 at the NCAA Championship for a second consecutive year, but they also captured five team victories along the way, a feat that had not been accomplished by an Auburn squad in nearly 30 years.

Auburn's trailblazing season began in the fall at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate where a school-record, 45-under par performance led the Tigers past a field of nine ranked opponents. The dominance did not stop there as the Tigers went on to win two of the remaining three fall tournaments, locking down the best start to a season in program history. Following its final fall victory at the Isleworth Collegiate, Auburn was named the  No. 1 team in the country in every major poll. 

After the season concluded, another new program record emerged thanks to a 278.70 team scoring average. Not only did average break the previous record by over four strokes, it also led all of Division I. J.M. Butler and Brendan Valdes were named Clinard's 16th and 17th All-Americans following the season. 

In yet another incredible season, Clinard led Auburn to one of its most remarkable runs during the 2021-22 cycle as the team finished tied for 10th at the NCAA Championship, tying the third best finish in the history of the program. The Tigers advanced to Nationals following a second-place performance at the NCAA Norman Regional, shooting 16-under to punch their ticket. The season also saw Clinard capture team wins No. 38 and 39 of his Auburn career at both the Nexus Collegiate and the General Hackler Championship.

His student-athletes racked up a variety awards and recognition during the 2022 campaign, including two selections to All-SEC teams, the fifth-straight season with multiple honorees, two PING All-Region bids and one PING All-American in the form of J.M. Butler. 

Under Clinard's tutelage, Butler recorded one of the most prolific seasons in Auburn golf history. The sophomore not only smashed the school record for 54-hole score at 17-under but also tallied the second best single-season scoring average in program history at 70.56 shots per round. Additionally, Butler was named to the Palmer Cup Watchlist and to the watchlists for both the Fred Haskins and Ben Hogan awards. 

In 2021, Clinard guided the Tigers to their 11th-straight NCAA Regional appearance, making the tournament every year except for the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Tigers captured the 36th and 37th team titles under Clinard's tenure with 19-under and 26-under outings at both the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate and the Tiger Invitational. Senior Andrew Kozan was also named the 32nd All-American in school history after leading the team in five tournaments and posting a 71.48 strokes per round tally throughout the year.  

Auburn was one of the hottest teams in the country before the 2019-20 season came to a halt due to the COVID pandemic. The Tigers captured three team titles in their last four tournaments prior to the season concluding. Auburn won the Kiawah Classic, Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate and Tiger Invitational.

Jovan Rebula set the single season record for lowest stroke average by an Auburn golfer at 70.19 strokes per round. He went on to be named a PING All-American for third time, becoming just the third golfer in program history to be a three-time All-American, joining Jimmy Green (1990, 1991, 1992) and Lee Williams (2002, 2003, 2005).

Graysen Huff and Andrew Kozan were both named Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars. Huff, Kozan and Rebula also picked up PING All-Region accolades.

The Tigers earned four All-SEC honors as Rebula was named first team all-conference, Huff and Kozan awarded second team honors and Alex Vogelsong was chosen to the all-freshman team.

Prior to the 2020-21 season, Clinard was chosen, along with Director of Athletics Allen Greene, to represent Auburn on the SEC Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice, a league-wide body consisting of a diverse group of student-athletes, administrators, coaches and SEC staff.

The Council was tasked to identify resources, outline strategies and assist with implementation of efforts that, when taken together, will promote racial equity and social justice, while also fostering diversity, helping overcome racism and pursuing non-discrimination in intercollegiate athletics.

Despite a shortened season, the Tigers still managed to reel off 63 below-par rounds, including 35 in the 60s.

The 2018-19 season was one for the record books as the Tigers were the 2019 SEC Stroke Play champions and were the tournament runner-up. Auburn also won the East Lake Cup, an annual tournament that pits the national semifinalists from a season ago in a four-team invitational. The Tigers defeated Duke and Alabama in match play to take home the title.

Jovan Rebula, who became the fifth Auburn golfer ever to win the individual title at the SEC Championship, was tabbed as a PING All-American.

Graysen Huff and Jacob Solomon earned Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars, which is given to those who maintain a stroke average under 76, a grade point average of 3.2 or better and be of high moral character.

In total, Auburn produced 89 rounds below par, including 64 circuits that finished in the 60s.

The 2017-18 Auburn men’s golf team produced its best finish in program history when it tied for third in the country at the NCAA Championships. Freshman Brandon Mancheno tied for medalist honors at the NCAA Championships, tied for the best finish in program history (Chip Spratlin, 1995) before falling in a playoff.

The Tigers won their fourth Southeastern Conference title and first since 2002 following a 3-2 victory over Alabama during match play at the SEC Championship. Freshman Wells Padgett secured the title with a 20-foot putt on the 18th green in the final match.

Auburn finished with a record of 174-31-7 (.837) and was ranked for the entire 2017-18 season, reaching as high as No. 6 in the nation. The Tigers captured four tournament wins: The All-American, Tiger Invitational, John Hayt Invitational and the SEC Championship. Junior Trace Crowe earned medalist honors at the Gary Koch Invitational, highlighted by a program record-tying round of 63 in the second round.

In total, Auburn had 98 rounds below par, including 59 rounds in the 60s. The Tigers had four players break into the single-season top 15 for lowest stroke average per round in Brandon Mancheno (2nd, 70.64), Jovan Rebula (8th, 71.3), Trace Crowe (12th, 71.43) and Ben Schlottman (13th, 71.52).

Brandon Mancheno and Jovan Rebula became the first duo to be named All-Americans in the same season since 2012 and just the sixth all-time.

For his efforts, Clinard was tabbed as the SEC Coach of the Year, Southeast Region Coach of the Year and was a finalist for National Coach of the Year. Brandon Mancheno was selected as the SEC Freshman of the Year and was a semifinalist for the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award.

In addition, the Tigers boasted a GPA over 3.0 landing them a Golf Coaches Association All-Academic Team for the ninth consecutive season, all under Coach Clinard.

Three members of the team won amateur events during the summer. Jovan Rebula captured the British Amateur, while Wells Padgett earned the crown at the Southwestern Amateur. Ben Schlottman earned the victory at the 118th North & South Amateur.

The Tigers recorded the fourth-best finish in school history by placing 11th at the 2017 NCAA Championship.

Auburn had been ranked as high as No. 2 nationally in 2016-17 while winning four team titles: Inverness Intercollegiate, Jerry Pate Intercollegiate, Tiger Invitational and Gary Koch Invitational.

Trace Crowe, who was an All-SEC second-team selection, won medalist honors at the Gary Koch. Matt Gilchrest was a Byron Nelson Award finalist, and Trace Crowe an All-Region selection. Gilchrest and Ryan Benton were named All-America Scholars and the team was named an All-Academic Team for the eighth consecutive year by the GCAA.

The Tigers were ranked No. 1 nationally for the much of the 2015-16 fall season while senior Michael Johnson was ranked No. 1 nationally in the Golfweek individual rankings and second in the Palmer Cup rankings.

Auburn has made the NCAA Regionals each of his nine seasons and have advanced to the NCAA Championship seven straight years, including finishing tied for third in 2018, 11th in 2017 and 12th in 2015.

Auburn won four tournaments in 2015-16 including the Carpet Capital Collegiate, U.S. Collegiate Championship, Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and the Seminole Intercollegiate while finishing as runner-up in four others. Auburn had a perfect 1000 APR score.

The Tigers had five medalists with Michael Johnson winning three, the Primland Collegiate, Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and the Schenkel Invitational. Freshman Graysen Huff won the ASU Fall Beach Classic while Will Long was co-medalist at the U.S. Collegiate Championship.

Michael Johnson was named Golfweek first-team All-American, PING second-team All-American, first-team All-SEC and was a semifinalist for both the Jack Nicklaus Award and Ben Hogan Award and was on the Haskins Award Watch List. Jacob Solomon was a Freshman All-SEC selection in 2016. Johnson and Solomon were both named to the PING All-Southeast Region team.

The Tigers had the fifth-best NCAA Championship finish in school history by finishing 12th in 2015 and the Tigers are one of only eight teams to appear in four consecutive NCAA Championships.

Auburn won three consecutive tournaments with three straight medalists, all different, in the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate, Tiger Invitational Presented by Jason Dufner and the Schenkel Invitational in 2015.

Ben Schlottman was named Golfweek honorable mention All-American, the first freshman in school history to receive All-America honors.

Five Tigers were named to the NCAA All-Southeast Region team as No. 1 Illinois and No. 2 Texas were the only three schools in the nation to have five players named NCAA All-Region.

Schlottman and Matt Gilchrest were both named first-team All-SEC while Michael Johnson was a second-team selection. Schlottman also became the first Auburn freshman to be named All-SEC first-team in history while also being tabbed SEC Freshman of the Year.

Auburn destroyed the school's team single-season stroke average record by averaging 283.23 strokes per round in 2015 with the previous mark being 285.30 set in 2011-12. In fact, Clinard-coached teams have the four lowest averages in Tiger history.

Schlottman recorded the fourth lowest single season stroke average in school history and set the Auburn freshman record averaging 70.96.

Auburn climbed to being ranked fourth nationally in 2014-15 after winning two consecutive tournaments in the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and the Tiger Invitational Presented by Jason Dufner by 28 shots, the largest margin of victory in school history. Auburn then won the Schenkel Invitational at 41-under, edging No. 5 Vanderbilt by a stroke, for its third-straight win.

Clinard coached the Tigers to their third-straight NCAA Championship appearance in 2014 as the Tigers had three tournament wins and eight top three finishes, including thirds in both the NCAA Regional and SEC Championship. Auburn, which was 136-60-1, finished 23rd in the NCAA Championship in Hutchinson, Kan., and finished ranked 19th overall.

Auburn's three tournament wins in 2013-14 came in the Tiger Invitational Presented by Jason Dufner, the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate and the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate as Niclas Carlsson tied for first with a 70-73-66-209 and Matt Gilchrest finished a stroke behind with a 71-73-66-210.

Senior Niclas Carlsson was named honorable mention All-American in 2013-14.

Carlsson and freshman Matt Gilchrest were both All-SEC second-team selections, and Gilchrest was also named to the Freshman All-SEC team. Three Tiger freshmen were named SEC Freshman of the Week, including Gilchrest, Blake Messer and Will Long. Gilchrest was named SEC Player and Freshman of the Week following his four-stroke win at the UK Bluegrass Invitational. Messer won the USA Individual Tournament in Mobile while Long finished 10th in the USF Invitational.

Auburn men's golf received the NCAA Public Recognition Award for placing in the top 10 percent in the most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rate scores with a perfect 1000 APR. Auburn placed 10 on the 2014 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll five on the 2014 SEC First-Year Honor Roll.

In 2012-13, Auburn finished 13th in the 2013 NCAA Championship in Milton, Ga., after finishing tied for second at the NCAA Regional in Columbus, Ohio. The Tigers finished the season ranked 14th nationally while having a record of 149-61-3.

Auburn won three tournament titles at The McLaughlin, Mobile Bay Classic and Samford Intercollegiate. The Tigers had three individual medalists with redshirt freshman Jake Mondy at The McLaughlin in his first career tournament, Dominic Bozzelli at the Ameri Ari Invitational and Niclas Carlsson at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate.

Senior Michael Hebert was selected to the All-SEC second team while Mondy was a Freshman All-SEC selection.

Auburn was ranked No. 1 nationally in the Coaches' Poll after two events in the 2011-12 season for the first time since the poll began in 2001. It marked the first time Auburn received a No. 1 ranking since the fall of 1996.

The Tigers finished the 2011-12 season ranked a school-best fifth nationally in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings with three team victories and three individual wins and a record of 148-28-4 (.833), the second best winning percentage in school history. Auburn advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first time under Clinard, finishing 15th at historic Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Auburn won the Carpet Capital Collegiate for its first opening season victory since the 1978 Alabama Intercollegiate. The Tigers also won the Gator Invitational and Hootie at Bulls Bay.

Dominic Bozzelli became the first Auburn golfer in history to win back-to-back tournaments with the U.S. Collegiate and the Gator Invitational. Niclas Carlsson won the Hootie at Bulls Bay, a shot ahead of Blayne Barber.

The Tigers were the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Greensboro Regional for the first time in school history. At the regional, Auburn had an incredible final four holes as it went 8-under par over that span to jump from seventh to finish third to qualify for the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2008.

Five Auburn golfers earned All-SEC and NCAA All-Southeast Region honors, including first-team Blayne Barber, second-teamers Will McCurdy, Dominic Bozzelli and Niclas Carlsson and Freshman All-SEC Michael Johnson. The five All-SEC honorees are the most in program history, breaking the record of four in 2005.

Junior All-American Blayne Barber finished the campaign with a scoring average of 70.76, which snapped the 36-year-old Auburn record that was set by Buddy Gardner in 1976. The Lake City, Fla., native finished the year with seven top-5 finishes including back-to-back runner-ups at the E-Z-GO Schenkel Invitational and the Hootie at Bulls Bay. Barber finished the season ranked No. 7 in the nation in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings and became the first Auburn golfer to be named a first-team All-American since Chip Spratlin and Iain Steel in 1995. Dominic Bozzelli was an All-America honorable mention selection in 2012.

In 2010-11, Auburn finished with a school record winning percentage of .907 with a 122-12-1 record as the Tigers won back-to-back titles at the Chris Schenkel Invitational in 2010 and 2011 while also winning the 2010 Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, 2010 Tiger Shootout and 2011 UK Bluegrass Invitational.

The Tigers finished the season ranked 11th nationally and advanced to the NCAA Colorado Regional. Three Tigers were PING All-Southeast Region selections in sophomores Blayne Barber, Michael Hebert and freshman Niclas Carlsson. Only three NCAA Div. I programs had more selections than Auburn.

Auburn also had three All-SEC selections as Ben Hogan Award semifinalist Blayne Barber was named second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC leading the Tigers with a 70.93 scoring average as Hebert as an All-SEC second team pick while Carlsson was a Freshman All-SEC selection. It marked the first time since 2005 that three Tigers earned All-SEC honors. Barber was also selected to play in the prestigious Palmer Cup.

In 2009-10, Kyle Kopsick was named All-SEC second-team while David Zickler was named to the Freshman All-SEC team. Alongside Barber in 2010-11, Michael Hebert was named All-SEC second team while Niclas Carlsson was named Freshman All-SEC after he became to first freshman since Jimmy Green in 1988 to earn individual medalist honors.

In his first two recruiting classes, Clinard signed a pair of recruits ranked top-10 in the world - Sweden's Niclas Carlsson and Michael Johnson of Birmingham, Ala. Clinard also signed the No. 1 recruit out the state of Alabama two seasons in a row in Michael Johnson and Ryan Benton.

As swing coach for Barber, Clinard helped the Lake City, Fla., native become just the second golfer in school history to earn the honor of representing the United States at the Walker Cup. Barber also represented the United States at the 2011 and 2012 Palmer Cup. Barber earned his PGA Tour card for 2015 by finishing seventh on the 2014 Web.com Tour by earning $269,111. Clinard also coached Barber and David Johnson, who both were Florida State Amateur Golfer of the Year, the highest award in the state of Florida.

In his career, Clinard has 55 tournament victories including three conference championships, coached 15 All-Americans, 25 Academic All-Americans, four conference players of the year, four individual conference champions and 47 all-conference selections.

UCF won the NCAA Southeast Regional title by defeating No. 2 Georgia and No. 13 South Carolina in 2009 along with claiming the school's first Conference USA Championship. The Knights also won The Hummingbird Intercollegiate and the Rio Pinar Invitational as Clinard was named Conference USA Coach of the Year and the NCAA Southeast Regional Coach of the Year.

Clinard played professional golf for five seasons from 1996-2001 on the NGA Hooters Tour as well as several Nike Tour and Canadian Tour events prior to becoming head coach of UCF. He was also the assistant tournament director of the Jim McLean Future Collegians World Tour from 1998-2001.

The Gastonia, N.C., native graduated from Wake Forest University in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree in speech communication. He played one year of collegiate golf at SMU before playing his final three years at Wake Forest from 1992-95, where the Demon Deacons were ranked in the top 10 in the nation all three seasons. Clinard is married to the former Susan Roberts, and they have two daughters, Chloe and Peyton.