When someone asked Sean Woods if Mississippi Valley State University’s hardwood team was going to play an up-tempo style of basketball this season, he didn’t hesitate to answer.
“That’s all I know,” he said. “We’re going to be in your face.”
Woods, who was introduced Tuesday as the 12th head basketball coach in Delta Devil history, was a point guard under Rick Pitino at the University of Kentucky from 1989 to 1992. Pitino’s Wildcats were known for their fast-paced brand of play and postseason runs. Woods said he plans on bringing both of those things to Valley.
“Right now, we’re going to win,” Woods said. “And we’re going to win right away.”
At 38, this is Woods’ first head coaching job. He was an assistant coach at Texas Christian University the past two seasons. Prior to that, he spent one year with the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi program.
“I’ve been preparing for this all my life,” Woods said of his hiring as head coach. “It’s my time. And what better place than to start my career here at Mississippi Valley State University.”
“When you see the product we put on the floor, you’re going to leave with your chest sticking out.”
The Gary, Ind., native replaces James Green. Green compiled a 44-52 overall record in three seasons in Itta Bena. In 2008, he took Valley to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1996. Then, in mid-April, Green took a head coaching position at Jacksonville State.
The search for Valley’s next basketball head coach began immediately. Although the initial job posting called for applicants to have both a bachelor and master’s degree, the posting was revamped three days later in order to open the field up to more applicants, according to Debbie Montgomery, director of public relations at MVSU. The posting at that point said that a master’s degree was “preferred” rather than required.
"The change was made well before the selection process began," the university said in a statement Wednesday morning.
Woods does not hold a master’s degree.
The other finalists for the job included Texas Southern assistant Lacey Reynolds and Tougaloo College assistant Harvey Wardell.
College basketball fans might recognize Woods’ name. In what some consider the greatest college basketball game ever played, Woods scored 21 points in the Elite Eight round of the 1992 NCAA Tournament when Kentucky lost to Duke University in overtime. The game is notable for Christian Laettner’s turnaround, game-winning jumper as time expired — a play that is repeatedly shown on college basketball highlight reels.
On Tuesday, Woods talked about the sense of pride that he has carried with him since playing under Pitino, now the head coach at Louisville.
“It’s just a situation where we don’t know anything but excellence,” said Woods.
He noted that the same program produced Florida head coach Billy Donovan and Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith. Pitino and Smith have each won a national championship, and Donovan two.
“I remember the attitude that Rick Pitino brought – and we believed it – was, ‘We’re going to win and we’re going to win right away.’”
After Valley’s 70-29 loss to top-seeded UCLA in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, the Delta Devils lost a number of senior players. At the press conference Tuesday inside Valley’s Student Union Annex, Woods was asked if he felt any pressure in rebuilding the program.
“I know what my life is and what my calling is,” he said. “Pressure? Basketball is not pressure. This is a sanctuary to me. My mission is to make this the best basketball program in the South. There’s never any excuses.”
He went on to say that he has known the Valley job was his for “a month and a half,” and that he’s spent that time working.
Woods said he aims for Valley to become “the Gonzaga of the South.” During the past 10 seasons, Gonzaga University, a small private school located in Spokane, Wash., has produced prominent, nationally recognized basketball teams.
People may overlook the tiny Itta Bena team now, but that’s soon to change, Woods said.
“Let them think what they’re going to think,” he said, referring to Valley’s opponents in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. “When they’re gasping for air and our guys are out there pointing and talking, they’ll know.”
