Utah Jazz Coaching Candidate: Frank Vogel

SALT LAKE CITY – With the Utah Jazz undergoing a coaching search for the first time in eight seasons, KSL Sports is taking a deeper dive into each candidate that has been interviewed for the job.

So far the list includes multiple former NBA head coaches, assistants with ties to the Jazz already, and several other prominent names around the NBA.

In the third breakdown of the series, let’s look at longtime NBA head coach Frank Vogel.

Jazz Coaching Candidate: Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel was first announced as a candidate for the Jazz by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski shortly after Quin Snyder announce his departure from the team.

Two more candidates expected to interview for Utah’s coaching job, sources tell ESPN: Frank Vogel and Jazz assistant Lamar Skeeter. https://t.co/1zQX8Trhq3

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2022

Prior to interviewing with the Jazz, Vogel has held three head coaching gigs during his two-decade-long career in the NBA.

After serving as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Indiana Pacers, Vogel was named the Pacers head coach in 2011 when Jim O’Brien was fired midseason.

In six seasons in Indiana, Vogel led the Pacers to the postseason five times, including two trips to the Conference Finals.

Vogel was let go by the Pacers in 2016 after back-to-back disappointing seasons but was quickly hired by the Orlando Magic to fill their head coaching position.

The coach struggled to recreate his success in Orlando finishing with 29 and 25-win seasons in 2017 and 2018 and was fired by the Magic.

The @utahjazz head coaching candidate tracker!

A running list of every name reportedly interviewing for the team's open head coaching position, plus their resumes. #TakeNote https://t.co/K8kvJLcGpR

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 8, 2022

After one season away from the game, Vogel was hired to lead LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019.

In his first season with the Lakers, Vogel transformed the new-look Lakers into the top defensive team in the league and won the 2020 NBA title in the bubble in Orlando, Florida.

However, after their success in the bubble, the Lakers were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns in 2021 and failed to make the Western Conference Playoffs last season.

As a result, Voge was fired on April 11, 2022, following three seasons with the franchise, finishing with a 127-98 record.

Prior to Coaching

Vogel played Division III basketball at Juanita before transferring to Kentucky to work for then Wildcats head coach Rick Pitino. The former Lakers coach graduated from Kentucky with a degree in Biology in 1998.

Despite having three head coaching stints under his belt already, Vogel is one of the younger head coaches in the NBA at just 48 years old.

Vogel and his wife Jenifer have two daughters named Alexa and Arianna.

 

Follow @benshoops