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Frank Vogel Revered By Players Around NBA

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton
Oct. 24, 2016

ORLANDO – To fully understand the level of respect that Frank Vogel commands throughout the NBA, you must comprehend the parade of support that has come his way from opposing teams, players and coaches over the past six months.

Within hours of him becoming a coaching free agent last May – a sweepstakes ultimately won by the Orlando Magic – Vogel and his representative had already heard from four NBA teams about him potentially becoming their next head coach.

Vogel’s wide-reaching reverence was on display again this summer when shot-swatting big men Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo eagerly anticipated playing for the Magic because they would get to learn defense from a coach considered something of a guru on that end of the floor. Veterans Jeff Green and D.J. Augustin both picked the Magic in free agency, in large part, because of Vogel. Green signed with the Magic after getting a great recommendation about Vogel from former Georgetown University teammate Roy Hibbert, a standout for years for the coach when they were together in Indiana. And Augustin couldn’t wait to play once again for Vogel, one of the most supportive and favorite coaches he’s played for in eight NBA stops.

And all throughout the preseason – Vogel’s first with the Magic – there has been a steady stream of opposing players walk up to the Orlando bench for a quick chat or hug. Memphis guard Mike Conley, who signed one of the biggest contracts in NBA history in July, beat Vogel to the punch with an offer of congratulations on his new gig in Orlando. Then, there was Paul George, Solomon Hill and Lance Stephenson who all approached their former coach with smiles and hugs.

``He was there throughout my whole growing up in this league, from my rookie year, to fatherhood, to all-star games, he’s always been there,’’ George said recently when he faced his former coach for the first time. ``He’s been a father figure, so to say, in the NBA.’’

Many of the Magic’s players have spent the preseason getting to know Vogel and forming the same kinds of personal bonds with their likeable coach. Whereas most coaches see their roles on a team as being the drill sergeant type who barks out orders and enforces discipline, Vogel takes another tact, trying to build partnerships with players and instill in them confidence and trust.

He certainly can get feisty when needed, but he prefers an approach where there is more of a personal relationship and a ``we’re all in this together’’ mindset. (In years past, players like George and Stephenson got to see that when the coach would invite them to his house for barbeques and soccer games with his family).

Now, as the Magic head into Wednesday night’s regular season-opener against the rival Miami Heat at the Amway Center, Vogel wants his players to believe in his system and believe in the genuine faith that he has in this team. He’s gone about trying to build trust the best way he knows how – by telling light-hearted jokes in practice, by arranging team-bonding dinners on the road and by intently listening to the feedback that players give him.

``This (coaching) business is so much about relationships, so that sort of thing means a lot to me,’’ said Vogel, who became Orlando’s coach back on May 20. ``Now, that stuff doesn’t mean anything with what we’re doing here (in Orlando) going forward. I’ve got to start all fresh with all of these guys and we’ve got to build the same relationships if we’re going to have the type of success here that I think we can have.’’

It’s that kind of eternal optimism that draws players to Vogel, 43, and gets them to play hard for a coach known throughout the NBA as a blue-collar, no-frills worker. Vogel looks at a Magic team discounted by some of the national basketball media outlets and sees potential greatness. He hasn’t blinked once in the face of expectations that the Magic make the playoffs this season, repeatedly telling fans, media and his own players that big things are in store.

``Raise the bar and set the bar really high,’’ Vogel said recently. ``We’re going to be a team that has a shoot-for-the-moon and a dream-big mentality. Then, we’re going to go out and work our tails off and achieve our goals of getting this organization back in the playoffs.’’

Vogel can dare to dream big because the Magic have a roster loaded with talent, experience and versatility. The only thing lacking, it seems, is chemistry and Vogel feels that will come through hard work. Players love Vogel’s eternally optimistic approach, but it’s his work ethic and off-the-charts basketball smarts that command respect in the huddle and in the locker room.

Vogel didn’t play the game at the NBA level like Steve Kerr, Doc Rivers or Jason Kidd, but he instead dedicated himself to the coaching craft by working his way up as a video coordinator, scout, assistant coach and finally a head coach. Just like when he got his start in coaching years ago, Vogel arrives at the Magic’s Amway Center headquarters some four hours before game-day shoot-around sessions and practices to prepare.

``It makes for some early mornings on game days, but I don’t mind it,’’ he said with a smile.

Vogel’s trusting and positive style has been very welcoming – if not totally surprising – to Orlando’s players. Evan Fournier got a scouting report on Vogel from close friend and former Pacers center Ian Mahinmi, who told him that he had better be ready to run all throughout training camp. Hibbert, who had his best days in the NBA while playing for Vogel in Indiana, told Green that he would love working with Vogel because of a style that is so personable and supportive.

Meanwhile, Magic center Nikola Vucevic was somewhat surprised by Vogel’s style because he had already formed an image in his head from his years of fighting inside against the Pacers’ rugged frontline.

``When he was with the Pacers, because of the way that they played, I always thought he was a hard coach and someone who really pushes his guys hard. I thought he was a person who yells and curses a lot,’’ Vucevic said with a laugh. ``But then I realized he likes to play that way, but he’s not really that way. He’s a great guy with a great mindset. He wants us to play hard and be really physical, but he’s great with us. He brings a positive energy to practice and it makes us want to play hard and play physical.’’

Vogel is something of a basketball contrarian when it comes to the theory of playing big and physical in a NBA age that has shifted to small-ball and space-and-pace game plans. Vogel still believes in the power of playing physical and using big men to protect the rim. He was instrumental in the Magic trading for Ibaka and signing Biyombo in free agency because he wants the Magic to be known as what he calls ``a smash-mouth basketball team.’’

That approach worked well in Indiana for Vogel, who led the Pacers to five playoff berths in 5 ½ seasons as head coach. And they did it, for the most part, with bruising and disciplined defense. In the last four seasons alone, Vogel’s teams ranked first, first, third and sixth in opponents’ field goal percentage allowed and second, second, fourth and eighth in points allowed.

With that kind of success and knowledge of the game, many around the NBA expected Vogel to quickly land on his feet last spring when Pacers President Larry Bird decided the team needed ``a different voice.’’ Vogel was admittedly devastated, but he had calls from several other teams – including the Magic – about his services not long after he hit the open market.

Some of the best coaches in the game, such as San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich and Miami’s Erik Spoelstra have long been admirers of Vogel’s work. And they both knew he wouldn’t be out of work long this past summer.

``After 20 years in this league I’m not surprised by anything with coaching changes in this league. Some might be warranted, but most are done because of circumstances and it has nothing to do with how good the coach is,’’ said Popovich, a five-time champion. ``I think, first of all, Frank is real and he’s not going to blow smoke toward anybody. He’s transparent in the sense that he will communicate honestly with people and he’s consistent and persistent. Because of that, you can establish a program with him and build from there.’’

Added Spoelstra, a two-time champion himself as a head coach: ``His teams will have that commitment on the defensive end and will always be prepared. They will play hard and compete and his guys always play with great confidence.’’

Like with the flattering comments from George, Stephens and others from around the NBA, Vogel is highly appreciative. But he’s already trying to spin things forward, thinking about how he can build the same sort of success in Orlando with the Magic. Whether he can do that or not will ultimately come down to building strong relationships with players and having the same sort of disciplined, hard-working approach.

``They admire the success that we had in Indiana. We tried to do it by working hard and caring about the right things on the floor and having fun doing it,’’ Vogel said. ``I hope to create a culture here in Orlando where we’re winning and we’re having fun doing it.’’

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