76ers Interview Former Lakers Coach Frank Vogel
Last week, the Philadelphia 76ers made a notable change by parting ways with the head coach Doc Rivers after three seasons. As soon as the Sixers made the decision to move on from Rivers, they fired up a coaching search, targeting six candidates.
Among the six candidates the Sixers have on their radar is former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel. On Tuesday, the 76ers brought Vogel in for an interview, a source confirmed to All76ers this week.
Vogel, a Wildwood, New Jersey-born coach, has had several head coaching stints in the NBA since his coaching career started back in 2001. After serving as an assistant with the Boston Celtics, and the Sixers, Vogel found himself promoted from assistant to head coach with the Indiana Pacers in 2007.
In 431 games with the Pacers, Vogel achieved a 250-181 record. During that time, the Pacers clinched a spot in the playoffs in five out of six seasons. In 61 games, the Pacers had a 51 percent winning percentage in the postseason during Vogel’s tenure.
When Vogel’s contract was up in Indiana, he moved on to become the head coach of the Orlando Magic in 2016. His stint as the Magic’s head coach lasted just two seasons, as they missed the playoffs in both seasons under Vogel’s management.
Following a short stint in Orlando, Vogel eventually joined the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers in 2019. During his first season in charge, the Lakers achieved a 52-19 record, which placed them first in the Western Conference. During the NBA’s bubble run, Vogel’s Lakers won the 2020 NBA Finals.
In the following two years, the Lakers struggled to find the same success they had during Vogel’s first season in charge. In 2020-2021, the Lakers finished with a 42-30 record before losing 4-2 in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
When the Lakers finished the 2021-2022 season with a 33-49 record, which caused them to miss the playoffs, Vogel was removed from the organization. Since losing his job as the Lakers' head coach, Vogel has been away from the game, missing the entire 2021-2022 season.
The Sixers will give Vogel a look as they search to replace Doc Rivers. Overall, Vogel’s head coaching record is a winning one at 431-389. In the playoffs, he’s got a 49-39 record, with three Conference Finals appearances and one title in seven playoff runs.
Along with Vogel, the Sixers are expected to consider Nick Nurse, Mike D’Antoni, Mike Budenholzer, Monty Williams, and Sam Cassell as potential candidates to replace Rivers.
