NEW ORLEANS -- For the first time in school history, a Mississippi Valley State coach has won the Ben Jobe Award.

MVSU men's basketball coach Sean Woods was named the 2011-12 winner on Saturday in New Orleans at the CollegeInsider.com awards banquet.

The Ben Jobe Award, named after the former Southern University head coach, is presented annually to the top minority coach in Division I’s men’s basketball.

Woods, the SWAC Coach of the Year, led the Delta Devils to one of their most remarkable seasons in school history. Valley went on a 17-game win streak (second in the nation) and won the SWAC Tournament for the first time since 2008. MVSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Western Kentucky.

The Delta Devils finished with 21 wins ­­– the most since the 2003-04 season when MVSU finished 22-7 under Lafayette Stribling.