Friday, October 2, 2026
, 69°Wind: mph,
Welcome to our new web site!
To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.
During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.
In a season in which the Las Cruces Bulldawgs boys' basketball team sits at 17-2 and remains ranked among the top three teams in New Mexico, the program's identity runs much deeper than wins and rankings. At the helm of it all is head coach William Benjamin, a natural leader whose influence spreads beyond basketball, and into the many lives of every young man that goes through his gym.
“We do anything for our kids. We love our kids. We protect our kids. We help our kids,” Benjamin said. “If you’re in our program, we’re with you 100%. No one’s perfect–you make mistakes–but when we’re with you, we’re with you.”
That undeviating loyalty has in fact defined and shaped Benjamin’s tenure at Las Cruces High School. In his second decade as head coach, Benjamin has built this program to be rooted in community, culture, and consistency. The Bulldawgs aren’t just winning basketball games, they are representing something much larger.
“Don’t come in with preconceived notions thinking that you're going to run this show,” he said. “This show has already been established, and Bulldawg basketball gonna do what it does. We don’t need anybody trying to come in here and change what we’ve been doing.”
That type of consistency has paid off huge for Las Cruces High this season. The Bulldawgs have been a powerhouse at the top of New Mexico high school basketball under Benjamin’s leadership. Add that with deep state tournament runs, elite defensive play, and a raw pipeline of talent that continues to grow. This 2025-26 roster is no exception, led by a group of experienced players that are energized by the culture at Las Cruces High School.
Benjamin’s vision exceeds long after his players take off their jerseys for the very last time.
“We have great teachers. We’ve got great admin, great faculty here at Las Cruces High School,” he said. “If the players need anything, they can always come back. Not just me, we got people here that will help them.”
That sense of support and enduringness is what consistently keeps alumni coming back, and what makes Benjamin’s basketball program not just feel like a team, but family.
