Fever coach Lin Dunn has had about a month to relax now, since the end of the Fever’s 2009 campaign which ended one game shy of an elusive WNBA championship. The second-year Indiana coach completed her fifth year as a head coach in the WNBA and, for a second time, was the runner up for league coach of the year honors.

Dunn, in her 39th year of college or pro coaching, has firmly established herself as one of the country’s top women’s basketball coaches. The recently completed Fever season, however, was certainly one of her finest seasons.

Recovered from the end-of-season playoff run and back in touch with her offseason home in Dresden, Tenn., she took time to answer questions for a two-part Q&A with FeverBasketball.com. Below is Part II of the series. Click here for Part I.

FB: Looking back on the Finals, is there anything that you, as the coach, might have done differently basketball-wise?

LD: “I havent re-watched the entire series yet. I’m sure when I do, there will be moments when I think of a different substitution pattern or maybe using a timeout; or calling a certain defensive scheme sooner. However, overall, I thought we had a chance to win a title and that’s what every coach wants!”

FB: Looking back on the season, was there a point that confirmed your feelings that the Fever would contend for the title?

LD: “When we won 11 in a row.”

FB: Which was a bigger factor in the 2009 season – tremendous continuity among our returning players; or the production from so many new players?

LD: “I think having our key core players back from 2008, and having everyone in training camp together was the most important.”

FB: You have been a part of the ABL or WNBA since 1997, and you have coached college or pro women since 1970. Would a win in Game 4 have been your greatest professional moment?

LD: “Anytime you win a championship, it is a very special moment! Winning a WNBA title in a 5-game series would be SUPER!” 

FB: Despite not winning the title, given your history in the game, how significant were Indiana’s three consecutive sellout crowds?

LD: “We were able to create a new interest in women’s professional basketball in Indiana this season. Our state loves basketball and they love following a winning and exciting team! The three sellouts were AWESOME and we hope to start the 2010 season with another!

FB: What would be Lin Dunn’s message to the fans after experiencing the Fever’s run through the Finals?

LD: “THANK YOU!! And join us for the 2010 season! We were disappointed that we did not win the title, but we are focused on another shot at the top next season!” 

FB: What are three specific keys to returning to the Finals in 2010?

LD: “Keep our core players, improve our field goal percentage and improve our rebounding.”

FB: Any parting thoughts as you close the book on 2009 and begin looking forward to the 2010 season?

LD: "Thanks so much to our fans, of course, and all of our super corporate sponsors (among them are Community Health Network, Old National Bank, Kroger, Kinetico Water Systems, Subaru, FedEx, Eli Lilly, Lucas Oil, The Indianapolis Star and Anheuser-Busch) – they are truly part of our team!"