Jeff Benito enters his first season as the assistant women’s tennis coach and brings over 15 years of collegiate tennis coaching and industry experience to the University of the Pacific. Prior to his arrival at UOP, Coach Benito served as an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Director of Tennis at Cypress College in Southern California. He earned high marks as an educator and also revitalized the tennis programs. In his first year returning to Cypress College, he helped the Men’s Tennis Team finish #2 in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) after going winless the previous five seasons after his initial departure. He produced three All-American Male Singles’ Players and one All-American Male Doubles’ team. His men’s team also received the ITA Regional Award for Community Service. Both his men’s and women’s teams were recognized as ITA Scholar-Teams with numerous players on each squad being recognized as ITA Scholar-Athletes. He also served on the Junior College Operating Committee for the ITA and President of the California Community College Tennis Coaches Association.
Before returning to Cypress College, Coach Benito spent two years at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas, as Head Men’s Tennis Coach. There he maintained the success of a regionally strong Men’s Tennis Program and was named the 2016 ITA National Junior College Coach of the Year for men’s tennis. During his two seasons at Cowley College, his teams finished in the top two of the region each season and also qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament and finished in the top eight each year. Both years, his teams were also recognized as ITA Scholar-Teams with numerous players also being recognized as ITA Scholar-Athletes. He also served as National Awards Committee Chair for the ITA.
Prior to Cowley College, Coach Benito spent three years as Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at McPherson College, an NAIA institution in Central Kansas. There he propelled both programs to great success with his men’s teams being ranked nationally with a high of #17 and his women’s team being ranked as high as #23 and winning the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) regular season and tournament championship in 2014. With that Championship, his women’s team earned a berth to the NAIA National Championships for the first time since 1977. He was named Conference Coach of the Year and ITA Regional Coach of the Year twice in that span of time. He also produced five All-American players (3 men, 2 women), a host of All-Conference Players, as well as garnering ITA-Scholar Team and Scholar-Athlete recognition for his programs. Coach Benito also served as ITA NAIA Women’s National aRanking Chair and an Assistant Sports Information Director.
Coach Benito’s first stint as a Head Coach began at Cypress College in 2007-2011. He began as Head Men’s Tennis Coach and then took over the Women’s program as well, beginning in 2010. Coach Benito was recognized as Conference Coach of the Year from 2009-2011 on the men’s side and in 2011, was hailed as the ITA Men’s California Community College Coach of the Year. His men’s teams consistently finished in the Top five with his final season in 2011, finishing a then school record high of #3. He produced two All-American male athletes and his men’s team also was recognized by the CCCAA as having the highest team GPA of all men’s tennis teams in the State of California. He served on the ITA Ranking Committee for the CCCAA and also, on the California Community College Tennis Coaches Association Board as Treasurer and Membership Chair.
Coach Benito began his coaching career as Assistant Coach for Men’s and Women’s Tennis at Riverside City College, where he also played for two seasons. He helped the men’s team to new heights, as they earned their first Conference Championship during his tenure. He also helped maintain the women’s team’s high level of success.
Coach Benito earned his Master’s in Kinesiology from California Baptist University with a concentration in Sports Management. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of La Verne and an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology from Riverside City College.
