Men's golf will soon be welcoming a new face to the team as Nick Clinard, head coach at the University of Central Florida for eight years, signs on as head coach.
Clinard not only brings passion and experience to Auburn's program, but a strong recruiting mindset and a determination to succeed.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed, and I'm going to stick with what I know how to do, and that's recruit, and coach, and get the former players involved in our program and get the donors and boosters behind what we're going to do," Clinard said. "Nobody puts more pressure on anybody than myself."
Clinard said he is excited to be part of the Auburn golf family and work under the leadership of Athletic Director Jay Jacobs.
He also said he is eager to represent Auburn's core values and to be coaching in the Southeastern Conference, the premiere conference in the country, he said.
Cole Moreland, a senior on the team majoring in finance, said he is ready for the change that Clinard will bring to the program.
"You have to be open to everything," Moreland said. "(Clinard) is a new coach, and he was successful at UCF and he has a certain way of doing things. You really don't have a say in the matter because if you're not, you're just going to hurt yourself and the team."
One thing that Clinard said he plans to do is get the former players excited and involved with the program. Also, recruiting is at the top of his list of things to do.
"I'm going to hit the road recruiting very hard, and we're going to do the best to develop the players that we have and establish a winning attitude," Clinard said.
Moreland said he expects the team and the University to accept Clinard with open arms because he has proven himself to be a great coach.
"He's had a lot of success and is definitely a guy that deserves a job at Auburn, and he's good in his own right," Moreland said.
The transition that comes with a new coach isn't always easy to make, but Clinard said he is confident that the challenges will be overcome.
"There are always challenges in the coaching business, but the resources are there for us to succeed, and I thank the administration for that and their belief in me, and we're going to do our best to not let them down," he said.
Helping the team members grow as individuals is one of the best parts of coaching, Clinard said.
His relationship with the team is not the only thing that makes coaching great, but teaching and watching others play and improve their game helps keep the competitive spirit alive, he said.
"It keeps me competitive because I used to play in college and professionally," Clinard said. "I love the competition."
David Barnett, a senior in exercise science and Auburn golf fan, said he is happy with the hire because Clinard is a proven winner.
"He has already competed against and ahead of some SEC teams by winning the Southeast Regionals," Barnett said. "I appreciate that he has played golf competitively at all levels, and I would imagine that it's an advantage in coaching when you've been there. I think he'll bring in some top-notch recruits and help (Auburn) be competitive at the national level."
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