Adam Benhayoune is a former Division I men’s basketball player, trainer, and aspiring coach based in San Antonio, Texas. He played four years, where he earned a spot as a walk-on and became known for his work ethic, leadership, and shooting ability. He appeared in 14 games and shot 42.9% from three. Off the court, he helped recruit top players and represented the program at official events.
Adam earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a focus in Human Resources. He was a four-time SEC Honor Roll recipient and served on the Student-Athlete Committee. His education helped shape his leadership style, team-first mindset, and business thinking.
In high school, Adam was a four-year varsity starter at Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Helotes, Texas. He broke school records for wins and rebounds and was named 6A All-State, Overall MVP, and District Offensive MVP, and #1 Ranked Power Forward in the city.
While in college, Adam helped launch Players Inc, an NIL clothing brand that signed over 200 athletes and partnered with more than 30 Division I schools. He worked on athlete signings, apparel design, pop-up events, and digital marketing.
After battling a serious knee injury throughout his career, Adam began focusing on player development. He now trains athletes in San Antonio and hopes to coach at the college level. His long-term goal is to lead a college or NBA program. His story is about resilience, loyalty, and turning setbacks into fuel for growth—on and off the court.
Adam Benhayoune on Success, Setbacks, and Showing Up Every Day
When you think about success, what does it mean to you?
Success for me isn’t about stats or awards. It’s about doing everything you can with the opportunity you have. I didn’t play a lot. I wasn’t a star in college. But I was in the gym every day, and I did the work that helped the team. I helped bring in recruits. I gave everything I had to the role I was given. That’s what success means to me.
Most people don’t know what it’s like to be a walk-on. What was that experience like, and how did it shape your mindset?
Being a walk-on teaches you a lot. You’re promised limited minutes. You’re not the face of the program. Respect isn’t given as a walk-on, it’s earned. I had to show up with energy and focus. Every practice, every film session, every trip—you have to prove you belong.
Many games I didn’t play a single second, but I was still the first guy up off the bench supporting his team. That kind of humility and buy-in translates to everything else. You learn how to lead without being in the spotlight.
You’ve talked about playing through a serious knee injury. How did that change your idea of success?
My senior year in high school, I sprained my knee before the playoffs. I then dislocated my knee cap in the 3rd round of playoffs. I kept playing. We were one game away from state. After the season, I found out I was missing cartilage behind my kneecap. There’s no real fix for that. It made my knee dislocate over and over again.
A lot of guys shut it down after something like that, it’s ended numerous NBA careers. But I worked through it. I built workouts around it. I learned what my body could and couldn’t do. That injury was painful, but it taught me discipline. It taught me that success doesn’t mean perfect health or highlight plays—it means not quitting.
What’s one small moment during your career that felt like a win, even if no one else noticed?
It was probably the first time I got asked to host a recruit on my own. No assistant coach, no other players—just me and the family. That meant the coaching staff trusted me to represent the program the right way. That said a lot, especially as a walk-on.
You helped build a clothing brand, Players Inc, while still in college. What did that teach you about success in business?
That experience taught me how much behind-the-scenes work really matters. Everyone sees the drop or the athlete wearing the gear. But I was up late helping with inventory, designs, and pop-up shop logistics. We had to get licensed at 30+ schools. We signed over 200 athletes. It wasn’t flashy most of the time. But it was real, and it worked.
I also learned how to talk to athletes. We weren’t just selling shirts—we were trying to give players a chance to benefit from their own brand. That taught me how to listen and build something that serves people, not just sells to them.
You’ve mentioned Coach Will Wade as a major influence. What did you learn from him about success?
Coach Wade changed how I saw coaching. He treated walk-ons the same way he treated starters. He remembered everyone’s name—hotel staff, managers, all of them. That kind of respect shows up in how his teams play.
He taught me that success isn’t just about systems or wins. It’s about how you treat people. It’s about creating a culture where everyone feels seen. That’s something I want to bring into my own coaching career.
You also worked with students with special needs for years. How has that shaped your definition of success?
Working in those classrooms since middle school helped me slow down and pay attention. A lot of what we call “success” in sports is loud—big plays, awards, numbers. But in those rooms, success was a student making it through the day with a smile. Or being able to focus for ten minutes longer than the day before.
It reminded me that growth looks different for everyone. That lesson stuck with me. I bring that same patience into how I train athletes now.
Looking ahead, what does success look like for you in the next 5 years?
Success for me is simple. I want to help players get better. I want to coach. I want to learn and grow without skipping steps. Most importantly, I want to win. Whether that means being a graduate assistant next year or running my own training program in San Antonio—I’m good as long as I’m building something that matters.
There’s no big finish line. I just want to stay in the game and give back what I’ve learned.