Benavides was born in San Antonio, Texas where he attended Holy Cross High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education with Emphasis in Athletic Training from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1984. He attended Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and earned a Master of Education in 1985. Benavides earned his doctoral degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2011. His dissertation studied teaching strategies to improve athletic training students’ attitudes towards evidence-based practices. Research interests within the topic of evidence-based practice include teaching athletic training students how to effectively search for empirical studies and comparative effectiveness of manual interventions to reduce musculoskeletal pain.

Prior to coming to Southwestern University in 1992, he served as athletic trainer and teacher at Foy H. Moody High School in Corpus Christi, Texas and Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas.  Benavides has served as the Head Athletic Trainer and Athletic Training Education Program Director for Southwestern University. Presently, he serves as Associate Athletic Trainer with specializations in Muscle Energy Techniques and Primal Reflex Release Therapy.

The blended Benavides family resides in Georgetown with children Greyson, Julian, Wilson and wife Elma. Daughter Casey attends St. Mary's University in San Antonio and stepson Armon attends Austin Community College.