'Don’t Sacrifice the Things that Really Matter Just to Get that Trophy'

Lin Dunn is a trailblazer who has transformed basketball while championing equity and addressing some of society's most pressing issues. Her influence extends far beyond the court, positioning her as a true pioneer at the intersection of sports, business, and culture.

As the Indiana Fever’s Senior Advisor for Basketball and former General Manager, Dunn returned to the franchise in 2022, bringing her championship pedigree. A Hall of Fame coach, she guided the Fever to their first WNBA title in 2012, forever etching the team’s name in league history.

Dunn’s 55-year career is an authentic masterclass in resilience, coaching, human behavior, and leadership. Reflecting on her journey, the 77-year-old recently said, “It’s been a joyful run—and what a way to top it off, working with Caitlin Clark. I am beyond blessed.”

The Daily Coach spoke with Dunn about breaking barriers, embracing failure, redefining success, and her six pillars for sustaining excellence.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

…

Coach, we're grateful for you doing this. Tell us about your childhood and some key lessons from it.

I grew up in the 50s and late 60s, during my elementary and junior high years. I came from a very competitive family—we competed in everything. That really instilled in me the competitive nature I had. But growing up in Alabama during that time was tough because, where we lived, it was against the law for girls to play interscholastic sports.

That was really frustrating for me because I wanted to play basketball more than anything. Basketball was always my favorite sport, even though I played others like volleyball and tennis—whatever was available. But the fact that there were no girls' teams made it really hard, especially since my brother got to play everything. He played baseball, football, basketball—you name it. Meanwhile, we were told, “Well, you can be cheerleaders.” And I thought, “No, I’m not doing the cheerleading thing.”

It was especially frustrating because I had some talent—I was better than my brother in every sport. But instead of being on the court, I had to sit in the stands and watch. That was tough. Fortunately, when I was in high school, we moved to Tennessee, and I finally got to play for two years. It was the old three-on-three, six-player format where the court was divided in half. Guards guarded, forwards shot, and we couldn’t play full court.

Even though it wasn’t the basketball I dreamed of, those two years were great for me. They gave me just a little taste of what it was like to compete. I also had an incredible coach during that time who had a big impact on me and my coaching career later on. Along the way, you pick up things from people, and he was someone who really taught me the value of being demanding, paying attention to detail, and having discipline.

He wasn’t a Bobby Knight fanatic, but he leaned a little in that direction. His philosophy was, “We’re going to do things the right way—all the time.” That mindset had a huge impact on me early in life and stayed with me throughout my career.

…

How did transitioning from high school to college and then to the professional ranks deepen your understanding of the game?

Well, when you coach at each level—high school, college, and then professional—it’s like advancing to a new tier of learning. Each step brings more talented players with a deeper understanding of basketball, and you have to elevate your own knowledge to match.

When I started coaching in college, I didn’t have the advantage of playing at that level, so I didn’t have a natural feel for the five-on-five game. I had to immerse myself in learning. I went to every clinic I could find—Bobby Knight’s, Dean Smith’s, Rick Pitino’s—and I watched men’s practices to soak in as much as possible. That’s when I realized just how much more advanced the college game is compared to high school.

Then, moving into the pros? That’s like earning a Ph.D. in basketball. It’s basketball 24/7—no classes—just the best of the best. Fortunately, I love the game. I love studying it, watching film, talking strategies with other coaches, and attending clinics. Watching film, in particular, has been a huge part of my growth. If you’re going to be a coach, you’ve got to enjoy film study because it’s constant.

The opportunities to learn have only expanded—books, podcasts, Zooms, you name it. One of my favorite sayings is, “When you’re through learning, you’re through.” That’s how I approach life and leadership—I’m always striving to learn something new.

Reflecting on both the highs of championship victories and the lows of tough defeats, what have these experiences revealed about you as a person and shaped your growth as a leader?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned over my 55-year career is just how important failure is. So many people fear failure, but it’s an essential part of the journey to success. You have to approach it as an opportunity. When you fall short, it’s a chance to reflect, reassess, and figure out what you can do better.

In my coaching career, I saw this firsthand. Whenever we lost a game, I’d watch the film three times, analyzing everything we did and how we could improve. But when we won, I might skim through it and overlook some mistakes because we got the result we wanted. Failure forces you to pay attention to the details you might otherwise miss.

I’ve always embraced the mindset that success is never final, and failure is never fatal. Whether it’s in your professional life, your personal life, or anywhere in between, falling short is a chance to ask yourself: What went wrong? What can I change? How can I grow?

That philosophy has been my anchor during tough times. When things don’t go as planned, I remind myself: This is my opportunity to get better—don’t waste it.

…

At this stage of your life and career, how have your definitions of success and fulfillment evolved?

That’s a great one. You know, when you’re young and just starting out and you’re hungry, all you think about is winning. It’s, “How can I win? How can I score more points? How can I win?” Looking back, I wish I knew then what I know now. That’s why young people can really learn from their elders, why they can really learn from the great coaches and executives, even if they’re retired now.

Pick their brains. Read their books. I placed way too much value on winning, you know what I’m saying? To the point where I didn’t spend enough time with my family. I didn’t spend enough time with my friends. My balance was completely out of whack. I didn’t take good care of my health because I was so caught up in that mindset of, “I’ve got to win. I’ve got to win. What can I do to win?”

Now, at this point in my life, I’ve realized I can win and still be healthy. I can win and still have a balanced life. I can win and still prioritize my loved ones.

So, I would always encourage coaches at any level: Make sure at the end of the day, when you win that trophy and everybody’s so excited, that you turn around to hug somebody and there’s someone there to hug. Don’t sacrifice the things that really matter just to get that trophy.

What practices or habits have sustained your consistency, drive, and purpose throughout your coaching and executive career?

When people ask me how I’ve been able to succeed with teams, even those at the bottom that no one wanted to coach, I always come back to the same principles. First and foremost, wise use of time. Time is a non-renewable resource—when it’s gone, it’s gone. I make sure every second is used effectively, from how practices are organized to how systems are implemented.

Beyond that, I’ve studied greats like John Wooden, Bobby Knight, Gino Auriemma, and Pat Summitt to understand how they sustained success over time. Through this, I’ve identified six key pillars: talent, culture, leadership, a system, practice, and support. These six elements are essential for consistent success.

You don’t win without talent, leadership, or culture. Support can sometimes be lacking—especially in women’s sports, where I’ve had to win despite limited resources—but when you have it, it makes a world of difference. Culture is also critical. Players need to feel safe, valued, and trusted in a positive environment. And, of course, you need a clear system and well-organized practices to bring it all together.

Practices, in particular, are your laboratory. That’s where you teach, fix issues, and prepare to execute. If your practices aren’t strong, you won’t perform well in games—it’s that simple.

For me, the “big three” are talent, leadership, and culture, but all six are interconnected. Whether in sports or the corporate world, when these pillars align, you’ll consistently achieve success.

…

You’ve had the rare privilege of witnessing and nurturing greatness up close. What lessons can leaders and high performers take away from these exceptional athletes and individuals?

I’ve been blessed to coach four generational players: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson, Tamika Catchings, and now Caitlin Clark. These are once-in-a-lifetime athletes—unique, highly professional, and driven. They have an incredible work ethic, a high basketball IQ, and an unmatched competitiveness.

If you put those four in a room and had them play any game, they’d fight tooth and nail to win. You don’t have to teach them how to compete—they’re ruthless about winning. That kind of drive is innate. It’s not something you can teach.

They also pay great attention to detail and have strong egos—but in the best way. Like Jordan, Magic, or Bird, their confidence elevates everyone around them. Their presence alone makes their teammates better. That’s a rare gift, and not everyone has it. I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to have coached the best of the best.

Your courage and authenticity have inspired countless individuals. How have you cultivated the bravery to challenge the status quo?

I think sports gives us a platform. It really does. It gives us a platform to fight for things we believe are important. I’ve been fighting to get Title IX passed and then to protect it. Women’s right to vote and Title IX are two of the most powerful pieces of legislation to impact women that we’ve ever had. It’s always a battle, you know?

I’ve also fought for gay rights and for women’s opportunities to do whatever they want. Some of those battles aren’t always popular, but it’s important to be who you are, especially in this day and age. Fifty years ago, people had to hide who they were. They couldn’t be open and proud of their sexual orientation, and that’s very unfortunate.

Hopefully, we’ve made progress today, and it’s okay to be who you are. People need to feel supported and comfortable being themselves without having to hide. I’ve coached players in the past who struggled with who they were, sometimes coming from families where it was discouraged. That’s unfortunate.

My hope is that when they got to college or the professional ranks, they entered an environment where differences were embraced and supported.

…

What values from your journey do you hope future generations will carry forward?

Always leave things better than you found them. Whatever you do—whether you’re coaching, working with a team, or leading a group—make sure your impact improves the players, the team, the organization and the overall situation. That’s a big part of what I hope my legacy will be.

It’s not always about how many wins you achieve. It’s about thriving on the journey of getting better—moving from where you are to where you can be. That’s something you can’t lose sight of.

And you also can’t underestimate the importance of culture—your values, your identity, and what you stand for. When a culture is strong, you can hear it, see it, and feel it. That’s what defines outstanding organizations in any sport and industry.

With the wisdom you’ve gained, what advice would you share with your younger self to navigate life’s challenges and opportunities?

You have the resilience to get knocked down and always get back up. No matter how many times you fall or fail, you rise again, and each time, you come back a little better. That’s something I’d encourage my younger self and everyone—whether in coaching or the corporate world—to embrace: the ability to bounce back and rise again.

I’d also emphasize balance. Success isn’t just about trophies or rings. Those are great, but they can’t replace your health, happiness, family, or friends.

“When you win that trophy, who do you turn around to hug?” If there’s no one there, you sacrificed too much for that trophy.

Lin Dunn is a member of The Daily Coach Network, a small group of business leaders, sports executives, and coaches who gather each month to inspire, teach, and support each other to build a championship team and culture. Learn more here.

Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe for free here and get daily emails like this directly in your inbox.

Want to advertise in The Daily Coach? Learn More