RALEIGH, NC – After NC State’s 7-3 win over Notre Dame on April 3, 2026, head coach Elliott Avent spoke on the recent renovations of Doak Field at Dail Park.
As the NC State baseball team continues through conference play, it has had a lot of high moments and some low moments in the Doak this season. The Doak itself has been going through the works too, with construction on renovations finally finished as of mid March.
“I don’t think I’ve come to practice in the last two years, without walking around a ladder or having to hear the jackhammer,” Avent said.
The renovations were not a swift process for Avent and his ballclub, as the new edition started work in 2022, and interfered with practice, but it was well worth it in the long run. A new clubhouse and player lounge were major additions. In return for their patience, the players also got major upgrades to their training facilities: a state of the art batting facility and brand new pitching lab.
Avent certainly didn’t expect the new clubhouse to be named after him, as his wife named the clubhouse and kept it a secret from Avent until it was unveiled.
“No, Lord no, I had no idea,” Avent said. “It means a lot, she didn’t have to do that, but I have poured my heart and soul into this school. I didn’t ask for it or want it, but it means a lot.”
In his 30th year at NC State, Avent is more than deserving of his name being etched in Wolfpack baseball history. Not only does he have over 1,000 wins all-time, he has taken NC State to four separate Omaha trips, and has won six Super Regional championships in his tenure.
“I don’t know when I’m going to walk away from this place, it was always going to be hard to leave,” said Avent. “I never thought I could leave this place, but now it’s unbelievable to walk into this place and see all this stuff that the players have and it doesn’t just look cool, they are going to utilize it and become better.”
The real winners of the stadium upgrades are the fans.
The renovations offer more available seating, with two grandstands being added; one above the clubhouse and one down the third base sideline. With more seating, games this season have been buzzing, and the upgrades have added to the already great atmosphere the Wolfpack have when playing at home.
“It’s a great place to come and watch a baseball game,” Avent said. “There’s something special about being at a baseball game, and this is always for me, has always been the most romantic, charismatic ballpark in the ACC.”
Doak Field had already been one of the most formidable ballparks in the ACC, as the Wolfpack have defended home since the 2020 season, going 141-53 at home and winning over 20 games at home for five straight seasons. With the renovations and more fans to come, you can expect the number in the win column to rise even more.
Avent is very proud of the renovations, saying that he spoke with the construction crew after the renovations were finished and told them their work was world-class. It took a long time for the design and funding, but thanks to generous donors, Avent’s ballclub has become more than he ever expected it to be.
Avent has a lot of great memories in The Doak. This season has had many memorable moments too, whether it was the Pack shutting out Richmond 27-0 or losing 3-2 to Duke off a home run in the top of the ninth. The Doak has harbored the memories of the fans and every player that steps on the field. Now it harbors some first-class facilities as well.
“You knew it was going to finally come to fruition one day but it’s done right,” Avent said. “Everything in the locker room, everything in the hitting cage, everything in the pitching lab, everything is done with taste, done with thought process, and its first class down there.”
