THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 14, 1996 TAG: 9608140509
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 34 lines
Tony Guzzo will be staying as Old Dominion University baseball coach.
Guzzo, one of three finalists for the head coaching vacancy at North Carolina State, withdrew from the running late Tuesday after word spread that the Wolfpack had selected New Mexico State baseball coach Elliott Avent.
As of Tuesday evening, some paperwork remained to be completed and the school had not made an official announcement, but a source within the N.C. State athletic department confirmed that Avent was the choice. The third finalist was Winthrop coach Joe Hudak.
Guzzo declined comment earlier in the day and could not be reached by telephone later.
Avent, an N.C. State alumnus, got his first baseball job as an assistant to Guzzo at North Carolina Wesleyan in 1981. Avent, 225-213 in his eight years with New Mexico State, also coached under Guzzo at Virginia Commonwealth in 1983.
Now that Guzzo's immediate future at ODU is settled, the Norfolk native has a few issues to address.
Pitching coach Jerry Meyers accepted an assistant coaching position at South Carolina on Monday. Meyers will work with Ray Tanner, who left N.C. State on June 14 for the Gamecocks.
Guzzo, who will have no seniors next season, has signed four recruits but was hoping to get at least two more newcomers before fall workouts.
Guzzo is 78-37 with two NCAA tournament appearances in his two years at ODU. His career record is 509-403-2. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Tony Guzzo by CNB