OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Auburn men’s golf coach and reigning National Coach of the Year Nick Clinard will attempt to lead the United States to a three-peat next summer at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup as he was announced as a co-head coach of Team USA on Tuesday for the event set for June 6-8, 2025, at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
“It is a privilege and an honor to represent the United States at such a meaningful and iconic tournament,” Clinard said. “I cannot wait to get to work with some of the best young talent in the world while coaching the sport that means so much to us all. It is a duty that I will take very seriously as I hope to make Auburn and the USA proud of what we will accomplish.”
Clinard is the first Auburn representative to lead either Team USA or Team International as a head coach. He will coach alongside Kalen Anderson of South Carolina women’s golf. Assistant coaches will be announced by the GCAA at a later date.
Clinard earned the title of Dave Williams DI National Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to one of the most dominant runs in the history of the sport last spring, winning 10 tournaments, including seven in a row to close out the season with an SEC Championship, regional title and the program’s first NCAA Championship. His 66 career victories rank eighth all-time and are the second-most by an active head coach.
Following the outstanding 2023-24 season, Jackson Koivun and Brendan Valdes were named First Team All-Americans. Both went on to play for the United States at the previous Palmer Cup, leading the Americans to their first victory on European soil since 2018.
The No. 3 Tigers resume their season in early February 2025 at the Amer Ari Invitational hosted by Mauna Lani Golf Club in Waikoloa, Hawai’i.
“It is a privilege and an honor to represent the United States at such a meaningful and iconic tournament,” Clinard said. “I cannot wait to get to work with some of the best young talent in the world while coaching the sport that means so much to us all. It is a duty that I will take very seriously as I hope to make Auburn and the USA proud of what we will accomplish.”
Clinard is the first Auburn representative to lead either Team USA or Team International as a head coach. He will coach alongside Kalen Anderson of South Carolina women’s golf. Assistant coaches will be announced by the GCAA at a later date.
Clinard earned the title of Dave Williams DI National Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to one of the most dominant runs in the history of the sport last spring, winning 10 tournaments, including seven in a row to close out the season with an SEC Championship, regional title and the program’s first NCAA Championship. His 66 career victories rank eighth all-time and are the second-most by an active head coach.
Following the outstanding 2023-24 season, Jackson Koivun and Brendan Valdes were named First Team All-Americans. Both went on to play for the United States at the previous Palmer Cup, leading the Americans to their first victory on European soil since 2018.
The No. 3 Tigers resume their season in early February 2025 at the Amer Ari Invitational hosted by Mauna Lani Golf Club in Waikoloa, Hawai’i.
