After inheriting a program that school administrators were considering dropping, he helped lift the Aggies to 74 wins across his first two seasons at the helm – marking the most wins of any NM State head coach during their initial two years.
In his first year with the program, he helped lead the Aggies to a 34-22 record, including going 5-1 against rival New Mexico and steering the Aggies on a 12-game win streak during the season. This successful stretch of games still ranks as the second-longest win streak in program history.
Year two under Avent for the Aggie baseball program was even more lucrative as NM State recorded its first 40-win season in school history – finishing the season with a 40-19 overall record.
Avent still remains the third-longest tenured head coach in NM State history and led the Aggies to 20 or more wins in each of his eight seasons as the program's leader. Across eight seasons, Avent compiled an overall record of 224-213 (.512) and departed as the program's second-winningest coach.
Still to this day, he is one of only three Aggie coaches to tally more than 200 wins during their career at NM State. Avent is also one of just three coaches to complete their tenure with the program with a winning percentage of greater than .500. He also led the Aggies to a pair of wins during a three-game series against No. 1 Cal State Fullerton in his final season with the program.
While in Las Cruces, Avent coached a pair of Aggies who eventually played in the major leagues (Mark Acre and Jason Rakers) and also instructed 17 student-athletes who went on to sign professional contracts.
Since leaving NM State, Avent has put together one of the most successful collegiate baseball coaching careers in the country – leading NC State to 962 wins across 26 seasons to become the Wolfpack's all-time winningest coach. Avent is also currently one of only seven active collegiate head coaches with more than 1,100 wins to his name. Â
Avent has taken the Wolfpack to the NCAA Tournament in 19 of the last 26 and was named the ACC and National Coach of the Year in 2003 when he helped lead his squad to an NCAA Super Regional.
He also recently led the Wolfpack to their third appearance in the College World Series and second during his tenure when his team knocked off No. 1 Arkansas in the Super Regional. Under Avent's tutelage, 122 NC State players have been selected in the MLB draft while the Wolfpack have garnered 38 All-American selections, including eight First Team All-American honorees.
