Frank Vogel

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For the American banker and politician, see Frank A. Vogel. For the French photojournalist, see Franck Vogel.
Frank Vogel
Vogel in 2014
Phoenix Suns
PositionHead coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1973-06-21) June 21, 1973 (age 50)
Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, U.S.
Career information
High schoolWildwood (Wildwood, New Jersey)
College
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career2001–present
Career history
As coach:
2001–2004Boston Celtics (assistant)
2004–2005Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
2007–2011Indiana Pacers (assistant)
2011–2016Indiana Pacers
2016–2018Orlando Magic
2019–2022Los Angeles Lakers
2023–presentPhoenix Suns
Career highlights and awards
As head coach:

Frank Paul Vogel (born June 21, 1973)[1][2] is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously served as the head coach for the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers, leading the Lakers to an NBA championship in 2020. Vogel began his career as an assistant coach for the Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.

Early years[edit]

Vogel grew up in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. The Vogel family has lived in Philadelphia/South Jersey area since mid-1870, when Frank's great-great-parents, Henry and Catherine Vogel, settled there a decade after immigrating from Rhenish Bavaria.[3] During his eighth-grade year, he was featured in an episode of Late Night with David Letterman during the Stupid Human Tricks segment, in which he spun a basketball on a toothbrush while brushing his teeth.[4]

On December 10, 1990, Vogel's childhood home caught fire and everything in the house was destroyed. Vogel, who was 17 years old at the time, and his mother—the only two people in the house at the time—escaped out of a window.[5]

Vogel graduated from Wildwood High School in 1991.[6][7]

Vogel was recruited as a basketball player by two colleges and chose Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, for its science program.[8] He played as a point guard and was a starter on the school's Division III basketball team.[9][10]

In 1994, Vogel transferred to the University of Kentucky. Vogel served as the student manager for the Kentucky Wildcats men's team under head coach Rick Pitino in the 1994–95 season. The following season, Pitino resurrected the school's junior varsity team, and Vogel played for them.[10][11] Vogel graduated from Kentucky with a B.S. in biology in 1998.[1][11]

Coaching career[edit]

Boston Celtics (2001–2004)[edit]

Vogel began his career as the head video coordinator for the Boston Celtics under head coach Rick Pitino. He retained that position for five years before being promoted to assistant coach in the 2001–02 season.[11]

Philadelphia 76ers (2004–2005)[edit]

After coaching with Boston, Vogel went on to become an assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers. Vogel left the 76ers to become an advance scout for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2005 to 2006 and the Washington Wizards from 2006 to 2007.[6]

Indiana Pacers (2007–2016)[edit]

Vogel became an assistant for the Indiana Pacers in 2007 under former Celtics and 76ers colleague Jim O'Brien.

On January 30, 2011, after O'Brien was fired from his head coaching position, Vogel was named interim coach.[12] As interim coach, Vogel led the Pacers to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Vogel was officially named as the Pacers' head coach on July 6, 2011.[13]

Shortly before the Indiana Pacers were to take on the Miami Heat in the 2012 Eastern Conference semifinals, Vogel criticized his opponents for alleged flopping: "They are the biggest flopping team in the NBA. It'll be very interesting (to see) how the referees officiate the series and how much flopping they reward... Every drive to the basket, they have guys not making a play on the ball, but sliding in front of drivers. Often times they're falling down even before contact is even being made. It'll be interesting to see how the series is officiated."[14] He was fined $15,000 by the league for these remarks.[15]

Vogel at an NBA Cares event in 2014

On April 7, 2013, the Pacers clinched their first Central Division title since 2004. They finished the 2012–13 season with a 49–32 record, clinching the third seed in the Eastern Conference. After defeating both the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks in six games, the Pacers went on to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. In game 1, the Pacers were defeated by the Heat 103–102 in overtime after LeBron James drove by Paul George for a wide-open layup with 2.2 seconds left on the clock.[16] Vogel was roundly criticized for leaving the Pacers' primary defender, Roy Hibbert, on the bench during the final play.[17] Vogel said that he made that decision out of concern of Chris Bosh and acknowledged that he might do it differently next time.[16] In a back-and-forth series where neither team won consecutive games, the Pacers lost in seven games.

On January 14, 2014, Vogel was named the Eastern Conference head coach for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.[18] He had guided the team to their best start in franchise history, en route to a 56–26 record, good for first in the Eastern Conference. However, for the second consecutive year, the Pacers lost to the Miami Heat in the conference finals.

Vogel signed a two-year contract extension with the Indiana Pacers, to keep him through 2016.[19] With Paul George missing all but six games of the season due to injury, the Pacers just missed the playoffs due to tiebreakers with the Brooklyn Nets. Vogel brought the team back to the playoffs with a retooled and rejuvenated roster the following season; however, they fell to the Toronto Raptors in seven games in the first round.

On May 5, 2016, following the loss to the Raptors, Pacers' president Larry Bird announced that Vogel's contract would not be renewed, citing a need for "a new voice" to lead the players.[20][21] He departed Indiana as the franchise's all-time leader in NBA wins (Bobby "Slick" Leonard has the most total victories as the Pacers' head coach, with the majority coming in the ABA).

Orlando Magic (2016–2018)[edit]

On May 20, 2016, Vogel was named the head coach of the Orlando Magic.[22] He oversaw a young, developing team and dealt with a change in the front office after his first year when Rob Hennigan, the general manager who hired him, was replaced with John Hammond.[23] He went 54–110, missing the playoffs both seasons. On April 12, 2018, Vogel was fired by the Magic after the conclusion of the 2017–18 season.[24]

Los Angeles Lakers (2019–2022)[edit]

On May 13, 2019, Vogel was named the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.[25][26] In his first season in 2019–20, the Lakers developed into one of the league's top defensive teams.[27] He led the team to a 52–19 record and an NBA championship, having the best record in the Western Conference and third-best record in the league. Vogel was named a head coach of 2020 NBA All-Star Game due to the Lakers holding the best record in the West.[28] In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets in five games each. In the 2020 NBA Finals, they beat the Miami Heat in six games to claim the 17th NBA title in Lakers' history,[29] tying Boston for the most championships.[30] The team spent over 100 days in the NBA bubble after the season resumed from its four-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27][30]

In his second season, the Lakers finished with a 42–30 record as Anthony Davis and LeBron James sustained injuries throughout the season. Training camp began 71 days after the end of the NBA Finals, the shortest NBA offseason ever. The Lakers were 21–6 when Davis injured his Achilles, which sidelined him for 30 games.[27] They advanced from the play-in tournament and made the playoffs as the No. 7 seed, but were eliminated in the first round by the eventual Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns in six games.[27][31]

After trading for Russell Westbrook, the Lakers entered the 2021–22 season as the favorites to win the conference. Vogel used 41 different starting lineups, as James and Davis again missed significant time to injuries.[27] The Lakers finished 11th in the Western Conference with a 33–49 record and missed the playoffs. On April 11, 2022, Vogel was fired by the Lakers.[32] He went 127–98 in three seasons.[27]

Phoenix Suns (2023–present)[edit]

On June 6, 2023, Vogel was hired as head coach by the Phoenix Suns.[33]

Head coaching record[edit]

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Indiana 2010–11 38 20 18 .526 2nd in Central 5 1 4 .200 Lost in First round
Indiana 2011–12 66 42 24 .636 2nd in Central 11 6 5 .545 Lost in Conference semifinals
Indiana 2012–13 81 49 32 .605 1st in Central 19 11 8 .579 Lost in Conference finals
Indiana 2013–14 82 56 26 .683 1st in Central 19 10 9 .526 Lost in Conference finals
Indiana 2014–15 82 38 44 .463 3rd in Central — — — — Missed playoffs
Indiana 2015–16 82 45 37 .549 2nd in Central 7 3 4 .429 Lost in First round
Orlando 2016–17 82 29 53 .354 5th in Southeast — — — — Missed playoffs
Orlando 2017–18 82 25 57 .305 4th in Southeast — — — — Missed playoffs
L.A. Lakers 2019–20 71 52 19 .732 1st in Pacific 21 16 5 .762 Won NBA championship
L.A. Lakers 2020–21 72 42 30 .583 3rd in Pacific 6 2 4 .333 Lost in First round
L.A. Lakers 2021–22 82 33 49 .402 4th in Pacific — — — — Missed playoffs
Phoenix 2023–24 82 49 33 .598 2nd in Pacific — — — —

TBD

Career 896 480 422 .532   88 49 39 .557  

Personal life[edit]

Vogel married his wife Jenifer in 2002. They have two daughters.[34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Basketball Staff" (PDF). NBA. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  2. ^ "December 1998 Degree Candidates Archived August 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine." Agenda, Meeting of the Board of Trustees, University of Kentucky. December 8, 1998, p. 56.
  3. ^ "Henry Vogel Marriage New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938". FamilySearch. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Krolik, John (May 16, 2013). "Frank Vogel spun a basketball on a toothbrush on television 25 years ago". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  5. ^ Robbins, Josh (December 17, 2016). "Magic coach Frank Vogel gained strength from traumatic fire 26 years ago". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Wildwood High School graduate Frank Vogel promoted to interim head coach of Indiana Pacers". Press of Atlantic City. January 30, 2011. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  7. ^ Allan, Marc; Allan, Martha (February 6, 2012). "2012 Forty Under 40: Frank P. Vogel". Indianapolis Business Journal. pp. 24B. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  8. ^ Trudell, Mike (September 20, 2019). "Getting to Know Frank Vogel". NBA. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Keefer, Zak (April 18, 2014). "Frank Vogel: Smiling kid from South Jersey hasn't changed in rise to NBA coach". Indy Star. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Ramsey, Guy (July 22, 2011). "Where are they now: Pacers coach credits UK basketball for opening NBA doors". Cat Scratches. Kentucky Wildcats. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012.
  11. ^ a b c "Frank Vogel". NBA. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  12. ^ "Pacers relieve O'Brien of coaching duties". NBA.com. January 30, 2011. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  13. ^ "Pacers hire Frank Vogel as coach". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 7, 2011. Archived from the original on December 16, 2011.
  14. ^ Haberstroh, Tom (May 11, 2012). "Frank Vogel: Heat love to flop". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  15. ^ "Pacers Coach Frank Vogel Fined $15,000 For Comments About Heat Flopping". Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. May 12, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  16. ^ a b "LeBron James' layup as time expires in OT lifts Heat past Pacers". ESPN.com. May 22, 2013. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  17. ^ "Roy Hibbert shakes his head at Frank Vogel's coaching decisions". sbnation.com. May 23, 2013. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  18. ^ "Indiana's Frank Vogel Earns Spot as Eastern Conference Head Coach for 2014 NBA All-Star Game". NBA.com. January 14, 2014. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  19. ^ Vogel Signed to Contract Extension
  20. ^ "Pacers Announce Frank Vogel Will Not Return as Coach". NBA.com. May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  21. ^ "Pacers part with coach Vogel". Yahoo.com. Yahoo! Sports. May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  22. ^ Savage, Dan (May 20, 2016). "Magic Name Frank Vogel Head Coach". NBA.com. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  23. ^ Denton, John (May 23, 2017). "Magic Name John Hammond General Manager". NBA.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  24. ^ Denton, John (April 12, 2018). "Orlando Magic Dismiss Frank Vogel as Head Coach". NBA.com. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  25. ^ Trudell, Mike (May 13, 2019). "Lakers Announce Hiring of Frank Vogel as Head Coach". NBA.com. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  26. ^ Baer, Jack (May 11, 2019). "Lakers land on former Pacers coach Frank Vogel as next head coach". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  27. ^ a b c d e f Woike, Dan (April 11, 2022). "Lakers fire coach Frank Vogel after season burdened by injuries and turmoil". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  28. ^ "Lakers' Vogel to coach Team LeBron in 2020 All-Star Game". NBA.com. January 23, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  29. ^ Cacciola, Scott (October 11, 2020). "The Lakers' Winding Path Ends With a Championship". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Lakers return to glory, claim record-tying 17th NBA title". Reuters. October 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  31. ^ Cacciola, Scott (June 4, 2021). "Lakers Eliminated from Playoffs With Game 6 Loss to Suns". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  32. ^ Kioski, Nick (April 11, 2022). "Lakers Part Ways with Frank Vogel". NBA.com. Los Angeles Lakers. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  33. ^ "SUNS NAME FRANK VOGEL AS HEAD COACH". NBA.com. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  34. ^ Neuharth-Keusch, AJ; Zillgitt, Jeff (May 14, 2019). "Who is Frank Vogel? Five things you need to know about new Lakers head coach". USA Today. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
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