Becker named Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach – University of Texas Athletics

Austin – A seven-year coaching veteran of collegiate tennis, an accomplished professional player, and an NCAA team and singles champion, Benjamin Becker has been named Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach at Texas, head coach Bruce Berque announced Thursday.

“Benni will be a tremendous asset to our program,” Berque said. “As a player, he was an NCAA team and individual champion, and he has achieved everything that our players aspire to, including a successful professional career. As a coach, he has been a true difference maker wherever he has been. I’m happy for our players that they will have the opportunity to work with such an accomplished coach.”

“It’s an honor to join the University of Texas Men’s Tennis team,” Becker said. “UT has an elite athletic department, and Bruce Berque and his staff have done a tremendous job building championship caliber teams in the past. I look forward to helping Bruce and (assistant coach) Nick (Beaty) continue to build a championship culture and prepare our student-athletes to succeed in every aspect of life.”

Prior to Texas, Becker spent five seasons from 2019-23 as associate head coach for the University of Michigan men’s tennis team, having been named to the position in the summer of 2018. During that time, Becker helped the program to a 99-26 record, made back-to-back appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, reached the ITA National Team Indoor Championship semifinals, and had seven All-Americans and 16 All-Big Ten selections.

In 2023, the Wolverines made their second-straight appearance in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals after entering the tournament as a 5 seed. The team posted a 27-5 record with the 27 wins being the second most in program history. The team finished the season ranked No. 6 in the ITA final poll, and Ondrej Styler capped off his Michigan career with a run to the NCAA Singles Championship final, in addition to being the Big Ten Player of the Year. 

 

The 2022 ITA Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year, Becker helped the Wolverines finish that season with a 25-4 record. Michigan captured multiple wins over top-ranked opponents including No. 1 TCU, Ohio State at No. 2 and 4, and No. 6 Baylor, and the season culminated with a Big Ten Tournament Championship. As the 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines went on to reach the Elite Eight.

In 2021, Becker helped guide Michigan to the Big Ten East Division title, going 9-1 in the division after the pandemic split the league for one season, while posting a 14-2 overall conference mark. Finishing with a 15-5 overall record, the Wolverines reached the Big Ten semifinals and the NCAA Tournament. Though the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan ranked third in the nation with a 14-3 overall record, registering four wins over top-10 opponents, and a semifinal appearance in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. In Becker’s first season in 2019, the Wolverines went 18-9 and secured a trip to the NCAA Tournament. 

Becker went to Ann Arbor after serving as a volunteer assistant coach at SMU during the 2018 spring season. Prior to that, he worked in the same capacity at his alma mater, Baylor, during the fall of 2017 upon retirement from professional tennis.

 

From 2005-2017 Becker played professionally on the ATP Tour, competing in 36 main draw grand slam tournaments, while earning his highest world ranking of 35 in 2014. The ATP Newcomer of the Year in 2006, Becker accumulated five career victories over former world No. 1’s throughout his 12-year career, including Andre Agassi’s last match in 2006, Lleyton Hewitt, Carlos Moyá, Gustavo Kuerten, and Marat Safin. 

He reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open in singles in 2006, while getting to the third round of both the Australian Open and French Open in 2015, and he reached the second round of Wimbledon seven times during his career. In 2009, he won the singles title at the Libéma Open. In doubles, he made the third round of both the Australian Open (2011) and Wimbledon (2007), along with the second round of the French Open (2010, 2012) and the U.S. Open (2010).

 

A former three time All-American, Becker helped lead Baylor University to the 2004 NCAA Team Championship, while claiming the singles championship in the same season. During his time in Waco as a student-athlete, Becker became Baylor’s all-time leader in singles and doubles wins, while also earning three academic All-Big 12 first team honors.

 

Becker, a native of Merzig, Germany, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor in the spring of 2018. He and his wife, Kristin, have three sons, Collin, Connor and Cason.