Robert Benavidez enters his eighth season as head coach for the Men's and Women's tennis programs at Western NM University. Coach Benavidez heads the Mustang programs following a 30-year career as a high school teacher and Coach at Cobre High School. His experience and dedication have led to the rise of the WNMU Tennis programs. In 1997 and 1998 he led the women's team to the West Regional Tournament.

Coach Benavidez' goal is to afford quality tennis players the opportunity to compete as student-athletes while earning degrees in a strong academic program. "We expect our student-athletes to attend class, follow the rules and not do anything that would embarrass the Mustang Tennis Program." Coach Benavidez graduated from New Mexico State University and received his Masters' Degrees from WNMU.