Each week, AuburnUndercover.com will take a look at each Auburn sport in its season. Featured today is men's golf.
AUBURN – First-year Auburn men's golf coach Nick Clinard expects two things from his players: commitment and dedication.
Clinard says, with those two elements, the Tigers will be successful.
“I think they need to bring it every day whether at workouts or study hall or practice or playing,” Clinard said. “Don't go through the motions. I realize they are adolescent males and there are going to be some times when they do that, but really just come and be focused on school and on golf.
"If you are coming for those reasons, then you will fit in right at Auburn.”
Clinard takes over for Mike Griffin, who led the Tigers to a Southeastern Conference title in 2002, eight SEC runner-up finishes, 16 NCAA Championship appearances and 19 NCAA regional appearances. Clinard says that tradition was the reason he took the Auburn job after eight years as head coach at Central Florida.
“Professionally, what attracted me to Auburn was the college atmosphere and being in the SEC,” Clinard said. “I want to continue on the legacy that Coach Griffin has built here.
"At UCF we were trying to start our own tradition, but we never had that. Getting into a program that has that and trying to build on that legacy is always something I have wanted to do from a personal and professional standpoint.”
Clinard led the Knights to success last season. UCF finished 10th at the 2009 NCAA Championship. The Knights participated in NCAA regional play in five of the previous six seasons, won nine tournaments and two conference championships in that time.
Clinard says recruiting is the key to success.
“A lot of it comes down to being who you are, then selling what you know about the game and how you will be as a coach,” Clinard said. “It comes down to recruiting the right kids for your program.”
Clinard spent five years teaching with golf savant Hank Haney. He says that experience shaped him as a coach and as a person. Haney has taught golf for more than 30 years and has instructed Tiger Woods on the intricacies of the game.
“I owe a lot to Hank Haney for being a dear friend and helping me and guiding me through the game of golf after college,” Clinard said. “Going off to college really doesn't teach you that too much, because you are looking at the book the whole time or listening to the professor. I learned a lot from him as far as the teaching of the game."
As a player, Clinard was part of three Wake Forest teams that finished ranked in the top 10 in the nation. He graduated in 1995 and played professional golf from 1996-2001 before he took the job at UCF.
He is married to the former Susan Roberts, and they have two daughters, Chloe and Peyton.
INSIDER NOTES:
TUNE-UP TIME: The Auburn men will play in four tournaments during the fall season in preparation for the spring. The Tigers will travel to Dalton, Ga., for the Carpet Capital Collegiate Sept. 12-14. Up next for the Tigers will be the Shoal Creek Invitational in Birmingham Sept. 22-23. The Tigers will compete in the Jerry Pate Invitational Oct. 13-14 in Birmingham. The team will finish the fall season at The Bank of Tennessee Ridges Intercollegiate Oct. 24-26 in Johnson City, Tenn. The spring season kicks off in February.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP: Clinard said the Auburn men's golf team will find leadership in seniors Cole Moreland and Richard Williams. Clinard said he is expecting a lot out of Moreland and Williams, and a lot will be put on their shoulders.
“They will help the young guys and lead them in the right direction,” Clinard said. “We want to make sure they let us know everything that is going on and also that they can run things when we are not here.”
Williams is the younger brother of current pro Lee Williams, who holds the Auburn record for lowest career scoring average and was a three-time All-American.
GOOD HELP: In his eight years at the University of Central Florida, Clinard had three assistants. Clinard hired Evan Osteen last year and brought Osteen to Auburn with him. Clinard's two assistants before Osteen are now head women's golf coaches. Mike Akers is the head women's coach at Texas State University. Kevin McPherson is the head women's coach at Augusta State University.
FACILITY UPGRADE: One of the holes at the nine-year old Auburn University Club at Yarbrough Farms practice facility is getting a brand new green and Clinard said there are plans to upgrade the landscape and “spruce” it up.
