Who is Frank Vogel? 5 things to know about new Phoenix Suns head coach
The Phoenix Suns are set to hire Frank Vogel as their new head coach.
Vogel will replace Monty Williams as the Suns' coach.
Who is Frank Vogel? What can we expect from him with the Suns?
Take a look at 5 things to know about the new coach of Phoenix's NBA franchise.
Frank Vogel is an NBA championship coach
Vogel was the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when they won the NBA Championship in the NBA bubble in the 2019-20 season, his first season as the coach of the Lakers.
The Lakers went 52-19 that regular season. They beat the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets to make the NBA Finals that season, before beating the Miami Heat for the title.
More: Frank Vogel Phoenix Suns coach hire draws mixed reaction on NBA Twitter
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— azcentral sports (@azcsports) June 2, 2023
Frank Vogel has vast NBA experience
Vogel coached the Lakers for three seasons, going 127-98 from 2019-20 through 2021-22 seasons. He coached the Orlando Magic from 2016-17 through 2017-18, going 29-53 and then 25-57 in those two seasons.
As the coach of the Indiana Pacers from the 2010-11 season through the 2015-16 season, Vogel led the Pacers to the postseason in five of his six seasons, including losing twice in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Vogel began his NBA career as a video coordinator for the Boston Celtics before serving as an assistant coach there from 2001-04. He also has served as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers (2004-05) and as a scout for the Lakers and Washington Wizards.
As an NBA head coach, Vogel has a 431-389 record. His teams have gone 49-39 in the playoffs.
More: Frank Vogel in 'toxic situation' with Phoenix Suns? Sports talk host slammed for take
Frank Vogel appeared on late night television as an eighth grader
Frank Vogel has some unique talents, like spinning a basketball on a toothbrush while brushing his teeth.
He did that trick on Late Night with David Letterman as an eighth-grader, during a segment on Stupid Human Tricks.
Here’s young Frank Vogel on the David Letterman Show in 1986: pic.twitter.com/MarudeuTKd
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) June 2, 2023
More: Phoenix Suns set to hire Frank Vogel as new head coach on five-year, $31M deal
Frank Vogel's connection to Rick Pitino
Vogel was the student manager at Kentucky under legendary coach Rick Pitino in the 1994-95 season.
Vogel later followed Pitino to the Boston Celtics, where he got his start in the NBA as a video coordinator and then assistant coach.
Vogel counts Pitino as his mentor.
“The thing I don’t really mention with him is, he’s the one that inspired me to even do this,” Vogel told The Athletic in 2020. “Let alone everything I learned once I decided to.”
More: NBA insider roasted after Phoenix Suns' Frank Vogel hire: 'It's gonna be Kevin Young'
So proud of my UK player and assistant Frank Vogel. Frank has it all: brilliant, humble, hard working and all about Team! So great seeing him with @Lakers pic.twitter.com/U6t75aemMR
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) October 16, 2019
Frank Vogel has a reputation for building strong defenses
Vogel has had some very strong defenses during his time as an NBA head coach, with his Lakers and Pacers teams consistently among the top defensive teams in the NBA.
Several NBA writers pointed out his defensive reputation upon the news of his hire with the Suns.
BREAKING: The Suns are planning to hire Frank Vogel as the franchise’s next coach, sources tell ESPN. Sides are starting work on a long-term deal. Vogel brings with him a 2020 NBA title and history of constructing high-level defenses. pic.twitter.com/csF6bO8Bp7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 2, 2023
Wildwood NJ native Frank Vogel is one of the most respected defensive minds in basketball. Got a bad wrap with the Lakers after winning a championship in 2020. I respect Frank Vogel as a coach and think this is a really good hire for the Suns! pic.twitter.com/rO5QOs0cWw
— FLEX From Jersey (@FlexFromJersey) June 2, 2023
Frank Vogel's reputation as a defensive specialist is certainly warranted. Here's where his teams have ranked in defensive rating:
10th
1st
1st
8th
3rd
24th*
20th*
3rd
1st
21st
*Orlando Magic— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) June 2, 2023
Frank Vogel has coached his team to be the #1 defense in the NBA 3 times and the 3rd best defense in the NBA twice.
— andrew leezus (@AndrewLeezus) June 2, 2023
More: Phoenix Suns coaching search polls: Kevin Young, Doc Rivers or Frank Vogel as head coach?
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is Frank Vogel? 5 things to know about new Phoenix Suns head coach