NC State made the right call hiring Chris Hart as their new head baseball coach…but it’s worth hearing out the skeptics

After 30 seasons, Elliott Avent announced he was stepping down as NC State baseball’s head coach following the 2026 season. He’s leaving behind one of the strongest eras in program history: more than 1,100 wins, 22 NCAA Tournament appearances, and three College World Series berths.

Earlier today, the Wolfpack promoted longtime associate head coach Chris Hart as the program’s next leader. The move was popular among many fans and insiders, but not everyone agreed. Some wanted a fresh direction after three decades under one coach.

To be transparent, I was on the ‘Hire Hart’ side of things, but it’s not like I was deaf to the points of the skeptics. Because both sides had worthwhile points, I wanted to lay out cases on both sides and make a little room for discussion.

The Case for Hart: Stability in a Changing Landscape

The strongest argument for Hart is continuity. Elliott Avent publicly and privately made it clear that he wanted Hart as his successor. Avent even stated he would not retire unless he knew Hart would get the job. He saw Hart as the best person to protect and build upon what had been created over three decades.

Hart has been with the program since 2005, first as Director of Operations and later as associate head coach and hitting coach. He is widely respected as one of the top assistants in college baseball and was named Baseball America’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021.

Here’s why it makes sense:

• Talent retention is much easier with someone the current players and recruits already know and trust. In the NIL and transfer portal era, coaching changes can create risks you may not be willing to take on.
• The program maintains its strong culture and recruiting momentum without a major reset.
• With basketball under a new coach and uncertainty around how long Dave Doeren plans to be here, athletics administration clearly wanted stability in one of its most reliable sports.

Hart knows the players, the staff, the facilities, and the expectations. The transition should be smooth and in the end, that’s where a ton of value was placed.

The Case Against Hart: Time for Fresh Ideas

Critics of the hire make a fair point. Thirty years under one coach is a long time. While Avent elevated the program significantly, NC State has never won a national championship. Some believe the program may need a different voice and new strategies to reach that next level.

A name like Alex Sogard, a former NC State player under Avent who has had success as a head coach at Wright State, was mentioned as an intriguing option. He would have kept things in the family while potentially bringing fresh energy and a slightly different approach.

This side argues that even successful programs can grow stagnant and that bold change is sometimes necessary to chase that elusive championship.

In The End, This Was The Right Decision for NC State

NC State baseball has become a model of consistency. The Wolfpack make the NCAA Tournament nearly every year, produce Major League talent, and have made deep postseason runs, including multiple trips to Omaha. While a national title has remained elusive, the program is in a much stronger place than it was before Avent arrived.

In today’s chaotic college athletics environment, with turnover in basketball and looming questions in football, choosing stability in baseball was the smart move. Chris Hart has been a central part of the program’s success for over 20 years. This hire gives the team a new leader while keeping the same successful direction that has served it well for a long time.

Where we stand: Our opinion is that NC State made the correct decision by hiring Chris Hart. Continuity was the higher-percentage play here. That said, those who wanted a new direction have a reasonable point. After 30 years, it is natural to wonder if fresh ideas could push the program even higher. Both sides have merit, but given the current landscape, the athletic department’s current state of things, and the baseball program’s consistent success, betting on Hart was the right call.

The pressure is now on him to take the next step and deliver that elusive championship. If he does, this hire will never be questioned. Avent’s tenure will be seen as laying the foundation that was built upon by his chosen successor, Chris Hart.