ORLANDO - Former UCF men’s golf head coach Nick Clinard has been selected for induction into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame, the GCAA announced Thursday. Clinard is part of the 2026 Hall of Fame class alongside Pat Goss, Jake Harrington and Jamie Howell.
Clinard spent eight seasons at the helm of the Knights from 2001-09, building UCF into one of the top programs in the Atlantic Sun Conference before guiding the Knights to new heights in Conference USA. His tenure produced 11 tournament victories, two conference championships, 10 all-conference selections and five Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team honorees, among numerous other accomplishments.
In 2003, freshman Stefan Wistorf made an immediate impact, winning the Atlantic Sun individual championship by five strokes and earning First Team All-Conference honors. Wistorf was then named the A-Sun Freshman of the Year.
The following season, UCF won the 2004 Atlantic Sun Championship by six strokes, while Barry Roof claimed both the individual title and A-Sun Golfer of the Year honor. Clinard was named conference’s Coach of the Year after leading the Knights to two tournament victories and seven top-three finishes during the 2003-04 season.
After UCF transitioned to Conference USA in 2005, Clinard continued to build the program. The Knights captured the UCF/Rio Pinar Intercollegiate in 2005 before returning to the postseason in 2007 and 2008. David Johnson was named 2008 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference USA honors.
The culmination of Clinard’s tenure came in 2008-09. UCF won four tournaments, including the Conference USA Championship by five strokes. Three Knights finished among the top-20, led by individual champion and Newcomer of the Year Simon Ward. Four Knights earned All-Conference USA recognition, including freshman Blayne Barber, who finished runner-up individually and was named C-USA Golfer and Freshman of the Year.
The Black and Gold continued into the postseason making their third consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. UCF won the 2009 NCAA Southeast Regional to earn its first trip to the NCAA Championship in 17 years, where the Knights tied for 10th. Clinard was named both Conference USA Coach of the Year and Southeast Region Coach of the Year, capping an eight-year run that elevated the Knights onto the national stage.
Clinard joined Auburn in 2009 following his eight seasons with UCF and is entering his 18th season leading the Tigers. He has since earned SEC Coach of the Year and guided Auburn to its second NCAA team national championship in 2026, further cementing his place among the sport’s elite coaches.