Auburn AD calls out the GCAA after golf coach Nick Clinard’s coach of the year snub
Auburn AD John Cohen was not impressed with the Golf Coaches Association of America decision for national coach of the year.
Olivia Bennett 
Following Auburn’s men’s golf team capturing its second national championship in just three years, many expected head coach Nick Clinard to secure the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) National Coach of the Year award. However, the GCAA surprised the college golf world on Tuesday afternoon by awarding the honor to Virginia’s Dave Williams instead.
Auburn leadership speaks out
The decision ignited immediate backlash from the Auburn faithful on social media, eventually drawing a formal response from Auburn athletics director John Cohen. In a firm statement on behalf of the university, Cohen made it clear that he disagreed with the GCAA’s assessment.
“Under Coach Clinard’s leadership, Auburn won its 2nd national championship in three years with two freshmen and no seniors in its lineup,” Cohen said. “With five tournament wins, including a record-setting four-round showing in SEC Championship stroke play, a record of 187-23-1 and becoming only the 2nd men’s team ever to win both stroke play and match play in the same season at the NCAA Championship - Auburn’s Nick Clinard is most deserving to be recognized as D-l’s national coach of the year. Any other result is simply unacceptable by any measure.”
Team stands behind coach
The sentiment was echoed by the Auburn men’s golf official X account, which addressed the snub directly. “Sometimes they just get it wrong. While we are deeply disappointed in the GCAA’s decision for National Coach of the Year, we will always be proud of what we accomplished this season and know that none of that would be possible without the leadership of Nick Clinard.”
The Tigers earned their place in history last week at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California, where they dominated UCLA with a 4-1 victory to claim the national title.
Individual success for Koivun
While the coaching award went elsewhere, the individual accolades for the program continued. Jackson Koivun concluded a historic season, taking home both the Ben Hogan and Fred Haskins Awards. He finishes the campaign as the No. 1 ranked amateur golfer in the world.
