(This is the first part in a series of features on Baylor Athletics' 25 for 25, which honors Baylor's top 25 athletes in the 25-year history of the Big 12 Conference (1996-21). Selected by a panel of Baylor experts, the final list was picked from a pool of over 100 candidates that came from all 19 intercollegiate sports that the school offers. Over the next three months, two honorees per week will be released and will also be featured during game broadcasts on the Baylor Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.)
 
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            Returning to Baylor 12 years after his collegiate career ended, Benjamin Becker graduated with a degree in business administration in May 2018.
            Inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, the three-time All-American and 2004 NCAA singles champion said he returned to school, "first off, for myself, because it's great to have a degree from Baylor University, a great school."
            "But also, to show my kids that once you start something you should finish it, and how I value my education. I don't want them to come back to me in 15 years and say, 'Hey, you didn't finish, why should I?' It gives me better leverage in winning that fight."
            A native of Merzig, Germany, Becker helped Baylor tennis become one of the elite programs in the country. In his four years, the Bears swept the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, compiled an overall record of 120-7 and won the 2004 NCAA and 2005 ITA National Team Indoor championships.
            "Everyone was on top of their game and everyone stayed healthy, which was the most important thing. And everyone was pulling together," said Becker, who also won the 2004 NCAA singles title. "The team had a great bond, the chemistry was great, and we pushed each other. I definitely felt like we deserved to win that one and should have won it again in '05, but that's how sports go sometimes."
            Fifteen years later, Becker remains the school's record-holder for career singles (141) and doubles wins (104). Earning over $4 million on the ATP tour, he had eight top-100 end-of-the-year rankings with a career-high mark of No. 35 in the world.
            One of Becker's biggest pro highlights was beating former world No. 1 Andre Agassi in in the final match of his career at the 2006 U.S. Open.
            "When people ask me about the most fun match you've ever been a part of, the most emotional you've been on the court and the most excitement, it's definitely the NCAA Tournament," Becker said. "Winning the Agassi match was great, but you're by yourself. And I felt awkward at the time. I was embarrassed. They kicked me off the court so that he could do his speeches, and then I got to come back and sign autographs."
            After graduating from Baylor and serving as a volunteer assistant coach at SMU, Becker was named the associate head coach at Michigan in July 2018. Last year, before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wolverines were 14-3 and ranked No. 3 in the country.
            "Benjamin is a proven winner in college and professional tennis, and we are very fortunate to have a person of his caliber join our program," Michigan coach Adam Steinberg said.
            Becker and the Wolverines will host Baylor later this month in a first-round match for the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Ann Arbor.
            Benni and his wife, Kristen (formerly Ruef, a soccer player at Baylor), have three sons, Collin, Connor and Cason.