Auburn tennis alum Tad Maclean wins 2022 Cliff Hare Award

Auburn tennis alum Tad Maclean wins 2022 Cliff Hare AwardAuburn tennis alum Tad Maclean wins 2022 Cliff Hare Award
Anthony Hall/Auburn Athletics

2022 Cliff Hare Award winner Tad Maclean

AUBURN, Ala. – As half of one of the best men's tennis double tandems in the country, Tad Maclean became accustomed to competing in front of energetic fans.

That's why Maclean was cool and composed while receiving the Cliff Hare Award Saturday before Auburn's season opener vs. Mercer with 85,000 attending at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

"To be in Jordan-Hare is amazing," Maclean said. "Hearing about the heritage and prestigiousness of the award. I'm so glad to be able to be chosen."

Maclean received the award from the grandson of its namesake, who shares his grandfather's name. Auburn's stadium was named in 1949 to honor Clifford Leroy Hare, who played on Auburn's first football team in 1892 and later served as dean of chemistry and president of the Southern Conference, which would become the SEC.  Inscribed on the award are these words: "Athletics makes men strong, study makes men wise, and character makes men great."

"To win this award means everything," Maclean said. "Especially after meeting Cliff and speaking to him. There are so many deserving athletes."

On the court, Maclean teamed with fellow Englander Finn Murgett to reach the finals at the 2021 NCAA doubles championship. He ended his career this spring ranking seventh in Auburn history with 74 doubles victories and 11th in combined wins with 140.

Maclean and Murgett went 10-2 against SEC opponents this season, earning All-America status for the second consecutive year.

Presented annually since 1958, the Cliff Hare Award honors a senior student-athlete for academic and athletic success as well as leadership, integrity and courage. Maclean became just the second tennis student-athlete recipient, joining Estevam Strecker, the 2002 Cliff Hare Award winner.

"That was something that was preached early on from Bobby (Reynolds) and Chris (Hooshyar), both my coaches," Maclean said. "They definitely helped me develop the leadership aspects."

A 2022 honors graduate in accounting from Auburn University's Harbert College of Business, Maclean works for Deloitte in Atlanta doing international tax consultancy.  

"Enjoying it," Maclean said. "It's definitely a lot different than being on the court. Great people there. I'm grateful for Auburn and everyone involved here to give me the opportunity. Being on the court definitely prepared me for the September tax deadlines.

"Being a good teammate and being surrounded by good teammates. That definitely meant the most to me along the way. Those are the things you take with you forever."
 
Cliff Hare Award Winners
Year    Athlete, Sport
1958    Jimmy Phillips, Football
1959    Lloyd Nix, Football
1960    Henry Hart, Basketball
1961    Ed Dyas, Football
1962    Don Machen, Football
1963    Layton Johns, Basketball
1964    Mailon Kent, Football
1965    Billy Edge, Football
1966    John Cochran, Football
1967    Bobby Beaird, Football
1968    Marvin Tucker, Football
1969    Al Griffin, Football
1970    Connie Frederick, Football
1971    Alvin Bresler, Football
1972    Pat Sullivan, Football
1973    Mike Neel, Football
1974    Benny Sivley, Football
1975    Bobby Davis, Football
1976    Rick Neel, Football
1977    Gary Schatz, Swimming
1978    Marvin Trott, Football
1979    Jeff Gray, Football
1980    Charlie Trotman, Football
1981    Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines, Swimming
1982    Edmund Nelson, Football
1983    Mark Dorminey, Football
1984    Randy Campbell, Football
1985    Gregg Carr, Football
1986    Rob Shuler, Football
1987    Yann Cowart, Football
1988    Rodney Bowman, Swimming
1989    Randy Hudson, Track
1990    Win Lyle, Football
1991    Geoff Answini, Swimming
1992    Chad Muilenburg, Football
1993    Karekin Cunningham, Football
1994    Stan White, Football
1995    Jay Waggoner, Baseball
1996    Patrick Nix, Football
1997    Wes Flanigan, Basketball
1998    Dameyune Craig, Football
1999    Casey Dunn, Baseball
2000    Mathew Busbee, Swimming
2001    Jeff Somensatto, Swimming
2002    Estevam Strecker, Tennis
2003    Ben Nowland, Football
2004    B.J. Jones, Swimming
2005    Caesar Garcia, Diving
2006    Doug Van Wie, Swimming
2007    Steven Segerlin, Diving
2008    Jay Moseley, Golf
2009    Glenn Northcutt, Golf
2010    Jordan Anderson, Swimming
2011    Dan Mazzaferro, Diving
2012    Corey Luckie, Baseball
2013    Ashton Richardson, Football
2014    T.J. Leon, Swimming
2015    Frazer McKean, Diving
2016    Justin Youtsey, Diving
2017    Joe Patching, Swimming
2018   Wesley Curles, Track
2019   Tommy Brewer, Swimming
2020   Jack Driscoll, Football
2021   Jordyn Peters, Football
2022   Tad Maclean, Tennis


Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer