LEXINGTON, Ky. – UK's Lin Dunn, a member of Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, has signed a contract extension and will continue her current role as assistant coach for the women's team for the 2017-18 campaign, it was announced Thursday, May 25.
“I am thrilled that Lin is returning for another year,” Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell said. “The contributions she has and will continue to make in our program are immense. Like all of us, Lin is focused on helping Kentucky be the premier environment for young women to come develop into the very best students, players and citizens they can be. It is an honor to work by her side every day.”
Dunn (pictured) joined UK’s staff May 24, 2016, coming out of retirement to continue her legendary coaching career. The hall of fame career features a decade of coaching in the WNBA, including winning a WNBA Championship with the Indiana Fever in 2012. Dunn has coached over 25 years in the college ranks, helping teams win over 500 games with four Sweet 16 appearances and one Final Four.
“It has been great working with Matthew, Kyra, Niya and Amber and I am really looking forward to us continuing to work together next season,” Dunn said. “The great thing about our staff is that we all have similar core values that make it easy for us to work together. I want to continue to help them build a program that wins championships and invests in its players. I love the Big Blue Nation and cannot wait to be back on the sidelines.”
She has left her impact wherever she has gone during her career as she is not only a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn., but also the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame, UT-Martin Hall of Fame, Austin Peay Athletic Hall of Fame and University of Miami (Fla.) Athletic Hall of Fame. Dunn also earned the 2016 Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her lifelong commitment of service to women’s basketball.
Dunn, assistant coach Niya Butts and associate head coach Kyra Elzy all joined Mitchell’s staff last season, helping the Wildcats to a 20-win season and a national seed in the NCAA Tournament.
UK Athletics Photo