North Carolina State baseball coach Elliott Avent is an average 60-year-old guy who guided Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s hardball career, made a spin move during an argument with an umpire that went viral, and also was literally snake bitten.

“He won the battle,” Avent said of the copperhead snake, “but he might have lost the war. He got me pretty good.”

Avent, whose nationally ranked NC State team plays Hawaii in the season opener Friday night at Murakami Stadium, recalled last year’s incident when he defended his dog from a snake attack.

“I’m either stupider than I should be or I thought I was quicker than I was,” Avent said. “He got me on the ankle pretty good.”

Avent rescued his dog, killed the snake with an umbrella, and then covered his wound with a rag, just as he had seen in the westerns. He then placed the snake in a bag, and brought it along to the hospital, where he learned that reel life was not real. He was told the snake’s attendance was not needed. “The nurse in the ER explained to me that wasn’t the thing to do,” Avent mused.

His players decided laughter was the best medicine. Avent missed a series because of the injury, but later found a fake snake taped near the lineup card. On this trip to Hawaii, he noticed third baseman Joe Dunand packed a toy snake for a potential prank.

“The players still like to have fun with it,” Avent said.

Avent has developed a strong relationship with his players and his coaches, whom he praises for their teaching and recruiting. Avent is the Wolfpack’s winningest coach, but he deflects credit to his predecessors. “This was an established program long before I got here,” said Avent, who is in his 21st season. “My biggest secret is I haven’t screwed it up yet.”

NC State has sent several players to the majors, including Joey Devine, who pitched for the Wolfpack in 2005 and, four months later, was on the mound for the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. Avent also keeps in touch with Wilson, who played baseball and football at NC State before transferring to Wisconsin.

Avent is regarded as a keen strategist whose competitive personality is mirrored in his players’ approach. “We have great-character kids, hard-nosed kids who respect the game and play it very hard,” Avent said.

Avent displayed a feisty — and athletic side — during last year’s regional game against Coastal Carolina. Peeved that umpire Scott Higgins called a ball on a pitch with the bases loaded, Avent raced onto the field to argue.

“The umpire (ejected) me very, very quick, which was upsetting to me,” Avent said. “It was extremely quick in a regional game, which I couldn’t believe. We were at home, but we were in the visitors’ dugout. My players looked a little shell-shocked when I got thrown.”

Avent decided to re-argue his case, making a spin move around a second umpire to reach Higgins. The spin, captured on video, drew widespread viewership.

“It was early in the game, and I thought I’d give the players a little bit of inspiration,” Avent said.