Less than a week after leading the UCF men’s golf team to the best finish in school history at the NCAA Championship, Nick Clinard was selected as the Eaton/Golf Pride Southeast Region Coach of the Year, by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
The year was highlighted by winning the NCAA Regional. Following the regional win, the Knights participated in the NCAA Championship where the squad tied for 10th out of 30 teams. The best finish in school history.
The Knights are currently ranked 15th in the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index.
In April, the squad won the Conference USA Championship.
Several of Clinard’s golfers received individual honors, including Blayne Barber (Lake City, Fla.), who earned a spot on the GCAA All-Freshman Team. Barber was also selected as the C-USA Golfer and Freshman of the Year. Junior Simon Ward (County Monaghan, Ireland) was named the C-USA Newcomer of the Year.
Clinard’s team also shined in the classroom. His program was recognized for having the top grade point average among UCF men’s teams. In the spring, six golfers were named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll for having a GPA of 3.0 or better.
Clinard was one of five coaches nationally to receive regional coach of the year honors, joining Greg Nye of Penn State (northeast), Mark Guhne of Chattanooga (east), Mike Small of Illinois (Midwest) and Matt Thurmond of Washington (west).