start the season, with a 2–1 victory over Midwestern State. During Avery's tenure, the Coyote men's program improved their record each season. He tallied a record of 17-39-2 during his three years in charge of the team. In both 1998 and 1999, Avery also was the head coach of the women's soccer team at CSUSB. His first victory with the Coyote women came on September 9, 1998, a 2–1 win on the road against Cal State Bakersfield. In both of Avery's seasons in charge, the Coyote women finished with eight victories as he departed with a record of 16-22-2. 2000–2006: Division I assistant roles Following the 1999 season, Avery was offered an assistant coaching position at the University of Notre Dame, on the staff of Mike Berticelli. However, Berticelli died on January 25, 2000, shortly after Avery had resigned at Cal State San Bernardino. Nearly two months later, on March 17, 2000, new Irish head coach Chris Apple officially confirmed that Avery would still be joining the staff at Notre Dame. Avery spent six years at the school, one year under Apple and five years under Bobby Clark. He, Clark, and Brian Wiese were named as the 2004 Big East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. As a recruiter, Avery helped bring 11 All-Americans to Notre Dame, as well as 2006 Hermann Trophy winner Joseph Lapira. On March 3, 2006, Avery accepted a job as the head assistant and recruiting coordinator at the University of Louisville under head coach Ken Lolla. In his lone season with the Cardinals, Louisville qualified for the Big East Conference Men's Soccer Tournament for the first time in the program's history. 2007–2019: Head coach at Valparaiso On January 18, 2007, Avery was hired as the head coach at Valparaiso University; he became the third coach in the history of the Crusaders men's soccer team. He joined his wife, Carin, at Valpo; she had been on the staff of the Crusaders' volleyball team since 1999. Avery's first match in charge ended in a 2–1 defeat to North Carolina State on August 31; one week later, he earned his first win with Valpo with a 3–0 victory over IPFW. The Crusaders won four matches on the season and did so while conceding 28 goals, the third-fewest allowed in a single season in Valpo history. In 2008, Avery ran in five months to raise money for lights at