NC State baseball head coach Elliott Avent has announced his retirement following the conclusion of the season marking the end of his 30-year career at the helm of Wolfpack baseball.

In a statement released on Thursday, Avent expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the program including former players, coaches, staff and the fans during his three-decade tenure.

“Not many people get the chance to do what they love at a place that means so much to them,” Avent said in the statement. “I’ve been lucky enough to have that opportunity and I’ve loved every minute of it. I want to thank all the coaches and staff who committed so much to make this journey so rewarding and successful. To our many loyal fans, I would like to say what an honor and privilege it has been to stand in that first base dugout at Doak Field and listen to you cheer our players. They played their hearts out for you and NC State.”

During his time as NC State’s head coach, Avent amassed 1,103 wins, 22 NCAA tournament appearances, six regional appearances and three College World Series showings in 2013, 2021 and 2024. In 2024, Avent became just the 35th Division I coach to record 1,000 wins with one school.

Avent coached eight of NC State baseball’s 10 first-team All-Americans in program history including the likes of now-MLB stars Carlos Rodón and Trea Turner. Alongside Turner and Rodón, Avent mentored a total of 137 MLB Draft selections with 58 coming in the last 10 years.

In the same statement released Thursday, McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan and Chancellor Kevin Howell offered similar sentiments thanking Avent for his dedication and commitment to the baseball program.

“Elliott has built a lasting legacy at NC State and in the sport of college baseball, enjoying competitive success while touching so many lives in the process,” Corrigan said. “He has been a wonderful representative of our department and university and will forever be a part of our story. I want to thank him for his many contributions and wish him all the best in his retirement.”

“Coach Avent will forever be a part of the rich fabric of NC State Athletics, having been at the heart of NC State’s baseball program for 30 years,” Howell said. “We are incredibly grateful for his decades of commitment to coaching and mentoring our student-athletes, so many of whom have gone on to have successful careers in the sport. Not only has [Avent] been an exceptional coach, he’s been an exceptional member of the Wolfpack community.”

The conclusion of Avent’s final season hangs in the balance as NC State firmly sits on the bubble of what would ultimately be the program’s 23rd regional appearance under the 70-year-old skipper. But nonetheless, Avent leaves the program richer in the tradition and accolades as one of the winningest coaches in college baseball history.

The search for NC State’s new head coach will likely begin once the season officially wraps up but regardless, Corrigan has large shoes to fill with Avent’s departure.

This is a developing story.