It was only a matter of time before Frank Vogel inked his signature on new contract. The one he signed Wednesday may have been a freshly agreed upon deal, but the message was the same.
He’s the head coach of the Indiana Pacers for the foreseeable future, and that’s exactly what he wanted.
“I want to coach here forever,” Vogel, 41, told VigilantSports.com in August. “I certainly want to be back as the coach here for years to come.”
Frank Vogel is a player’s coach, always checking in with his team — as he did here with veteran David West.
Lame duck, no more. The team announced on Wednesday that Vogel, who was entering the final year under contract, had signed a multi-year contract extension with the team.
The specifics of the deal have not been revealed, and a call to Vogel’s agent Wednesday was not immediately returned.
The Pacers completed the deal just eight days into the new season, and wisely, well ahead of the regular season. This season will be Vogel’s fourth as the team’s head coach. He’s 167-100 over that time and has led them to the postseason every single year, including to the Eastern Conference Finals in each of the last two seasons.
“We’re very happy to extend Frank’s contract,” Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said in a statement. “I believe he has done a great job and I look forward to continuing our relationship and working together to achieve all of our goals.”
For Vogel, what an incredible ride it has been. From student manager (University of Kentucky), to the video room (Boston Celtics), to scouting, then onward to the bench — and eventually head coach.
This isn’t Vogel’s first contract extension, either. He signed his first one on Jan. 7, 2013, 19 months after having the interim tag removed in July, 2011.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue my tenure as Pacers’ coach,” he said. “It’s an honor to represent this franchise and lead this team. I look forward to the challenge ahead. I’m grateful to have had good, coachable teams along with coaching staffs that have been second to none.”
Vogel has been named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month twice; last year, he and his staff directed the East All-Star team; he won the Rudy Tomjanovich award, which recognizes excellence on the court with cooperation with the media and fans; and he’s been nothing but an excellent leader for this franchise.
“Coach Vogel is tremendous,” Pacers Sports & Entertainment President Rick Fuson said Wednesday.
“[Owner] Herb [Simon], in my situation the other day, he talked about this is not about change, this is about continuity. And I think it’s tremendous to have this young coach Vogel whose done so tremendously well. He’s so well-liked; he works so hard in the community, works so hard with the basketball team and on the court. I personally couldn’t be happier. I’ve been with a lot of coaches, we’ve had many many great coaches, but this young man makes a huge difference for us.”
Vogel, along with the Pacers, ensures that it is a family environment at the Fieldhouse.
In addition to his intellect and passion for the game, Frank Vogel is a caring individual who stresses the importance of positivity. To Meantime, he also has a sense of humor, which certainly helps in such a high-stress environment.
Vogel has a strong relationship with center Roy Hibbert, the longest active Pacer on roster. Those two use to work for hours in the gym back when Vogel was an assistant on Jim O’Brien’s staff.
And it’s always great to have the support of the face of the franchise.
“Coach Vogel is my man since I came in here and it’s a special bond between me and him,” Paul George said last January.
Reserve center Ian Mahinmi, who’s beginning his third season playing for Vogel, shared the message how coach always has his players in mind.
For example, if one of the guys isn’t playing in that night’s game for any type of reason, Vogel typically provides them with advance notice — “not like five minutes before the game,” Mahinmi explained. That allows the player to properly adjust his schedule and pre-game workout.
“Frank is one of those coach that are really close to his players,” Mahinmi continued. “We have his back 100 percent and I think that everybody in this locker room is willing to do whatever for Frank. We’re really ready to go to war for him.”
[…] of those coaches that are really close to his players,” reserve center Ian Mahinmi said, per VigilantSports.com’s Scott Agness. “We have his back 100 percent and I think that everybody in this locker room is willing to […]