Ryan Benitez joins the ENMU baseball staff as an assistant coach for the 2021-22 year, and begins his second season with the Greyhounds.
During the 2022 season, Benitez helped the team to the most wins Lone Star Conference wins in program history, finishing with a 16 conference wins. Several individuals had career bests as Benitez worked predominantly with the pitching staff. The program captured its largest win ever over #23 Lubbock Christian 16-1 and posted a 10-0 shutout over UAFSÂ in eight innings (The first shutout since 2018)Â
Benitez comes to Portales after four years as an assistant baseball coach, pitching coach, and recruiting coordinator at Coastal Bend College. While at Coastal Bend, he was responsible for all pitching staff operations, running study halls, planning travel arrangements, managing practice plans, and assisting with budget management for the baseball program.Â
During the 2021 season, Benitez helped the Cougars to their first ever NJCAA Division III South District Regional Championship, NJCAA Division III South District Super-Regional Championship, and NJCAA Division III World Series appearance. In 2019, Coastal Bend won the programs first NJCAA Division III South District Conference Championships.Â
Benitez spent the summer of 2017 as the head coach of the San Antonio Titans in the Centex Collegiate League where he led the team to a second place finish in the league.Â
Prior to that, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Texas A&M University-Kingsville.Â
During his undergrad days, Benitez was a member of the Javelina baseball team as a pitcher. He helped the team to regular season LSC championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Benitez was a 1st Team All-Lone Star Conference selection in 2015 and was a finalist for the Brett Tomko Award in 2015 as well.Â
Benitez holds a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Texas A&M-Kingsville.Â