Coach Elliott Avent has coached the baseball team to a 31-13 overall record and a 13-8 record in the ACC this year.
He has also led the team to a top-10 national ranking and currently has the team ranked 11th in the Collegiate Baseball Division I poll.
But for Avent, these accomplishments are a credit to the players.
“I give credits to the players we have for how well our season has gone,” Avent said. “Their ability to persevere through a sport with so much failure and still play hard is a tribute to the kind of players we have here.”
Giving credit to the players for the success and taking blame for the losses is normal for Avent, according to senior center fielder Matt Camp.
“He always takes the blame for the losses,” Camp said. “And gives us the credit when we win, but he deserves as much credit as we do.”
Avent’s ability to shoulder the responsibility of tough times has led to quality relationships with his players.
Junior first baseman Aaron Bates said Avent is best described as a “player’s coach.”
“My relationship with coach is outstanding,” Bates said. “He knows when to push you and when not to push you. He’s a really smart coach in dealing with the players.”
Bates, whose father died in 2004, said Avent was important in helping him through the tough time.
“When my dad passed away, coach was there for me,” Bates said. “It was a tough time, so N.C. State and coach Avent are special to me.”
In developing relationships with his players, Avent has also brought a winning attitude, especially to this year’s team.
“Usually we talk about getting to regionals,” Camp said. “But this year we talked about getting to Omaha.”
Omaha, Neb., is the site of the College World Series in which the Wolfpack have not competed in since 1968.
With such high expectations for this year’s team, Camp said Avent has prepared the team mentally to go far.
“Setting higher goals helps us,” Camp said. “It helps us mentally to prepare to win.”
Preparing to go out and win every game is something Bates says is a direct reflection of Avent’s attitude toward the game.
“A good team should reflect the attitude of the coach,” Bates said. “We reflect [Avent’s] attitude in how hard we play and how we never give up. We’ve had so many comeback wins this year and that reflects how Coach never quits.”
With 12 games remaining in the regular season, State has an outside chance of hosting a regional, according to Avent.
He said with a strong finish it would be possible, but unlikely given the proximity to North Carolina and the fact that they will host a regional.
But even if the team falls short of its ultimate goal of going to the College World Series, Avent said this team will be as special to him as any other team.
“Your favorite team is always your last team,” Avent said. “So this team will be special to me — all my teams are special.”