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| Vogel will be Pacers HC for years to come. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports |
The Pacers and Head Coach Frank Vogel agreed to a multi year contract extension on Wednesday to keep him leading the franchise for many seasons to come.
By: Michael Hanley
There had been on going speculation about Vogel's job security after the team had a sour end to their season last year bowing out of the Eastern Conference losing to their rivals in the Miami Heat once again. The Pacers started last season with championship aspirations, further stamped when they raced out of the gates to at one point own a record of 33-8.
Unfortunately for them they slid down the stretch of the regular season and never fully got the pieces back together to make a big run they had anticipated to the Finals. Team chemistry was a big issue as turmoil inside the locker room ran rampant throughout the second half of the regular season and through the postseason leading to speculation about if Vogel had lost control of the team altogether.
After the disappointing ending to the season last season, the Pacers still have faith in Vogel being their man to lead them to that elusive NBA Title. Here is their official statement on the Vogel contract extension:
"We are happy to extend Frank's contract" said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. "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"
Here is Vogel himself on signing along term deal with the Pacers:
"I'm excited for the opportunity to continue my tenure as Pacers coach" "Its an honor to represent this franchise and lead this team. I look forward to the challenge ahead. I'm grateful to have had good, coach able teams along with coaching staffs that have been second to none"
This will be Vogel's fifth full season as Pacers head coach. In his four plus seasons leading the franchise, he has compiled a record of 167-100 in the regular season and 28-26 in the postseason. Indiana has made it to the last two Eastern Conference Finals under his guidance and never has missed the playoffs while he has been in a charge.
This upcoming season will look to be his most challenging yet in his tenure. Indiana will be without their superstar player in Paul George after he suffered that brutal leg fracture in Las Vegas during a Team USA basketball scrimmage. They will also not have the services of Lance Stephenson who left via free agency.
Though the roster he does have intact is not a bad one at all, it will be one that Vogel has to really shape and find a way to get the absolute most out of the talent he has if he and the team plan on making another trip to the postseason this season.
In an Eastern Conference that outside of Cleveland is pretty wide open, Pacers will have a chance if they can gel and get back to playing the defense and efficient offense they were showcasing during the first half of last season.
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