May 16, 2019 

By City News Service 

 

The Los Angeles Lakers announced today they have signed former Indiana Pacers and Orlando Heat coach Frank Vogel to a multi-year contract as coach, their fifth permanent coach since the retirement of Phil Jackson in 2011.

 

“I am very excited for this opportunity to join the Lakers, a prestigious organization that I have long admired,” Vogel said. “I look forward to coaching such phenomenal talent and bringing my strategic vision to the team.”

 

Vogel replaces Luke Walton. The team and Walton ``mutually agreed to part ways'' April 12, three days after they completed the season with a 37-45 record, missing the NBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, despite signing perennial all-star forward LeBron James in the offseason. They had missed the playoffs five times in their 65 seasons preceding the current streak.

 

Vogel had a 304-291 record in six seasons with the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic. He guided the Pacers to five playoff appearances and back-to- back trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014.

 

“We are excited to add Frank Vogel as the next head coach of the Lakers,” general manager Rob Pelinka said. “Coach Vogel has a proven track record of success in the NBA playoffs and he reflects the core qualities we were looking for in a head coach including detailed game preparation, extreme hard work and holding players accountable to the highest basketball standards.”

Category: Sports