Pacers sign Vogel to multi-year contract extension

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday that head coach Frank Vogel has signed a multi-year contract extension with the team.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Vogel, 41, is entering his fourth full season as coach after taking over on an interim basis in January 2011. He is 167-100 since taking over the job and led the team to the NBA Central Division title the past two seasons.

“I want to coach here forever,” Vogel told reporters in September.

After Vogel took over, the Pacers finished the 2010-2011 season 20-18 and reached the NBA Playoffs for the first time in four seasons. In July, 2011, the interim tag was removed and in the three seasons since, the Pacers have reached the Eastern Conference Finals twice and Eastern Conference Semifinals once.

There was speculation last year in the media and among fans that Vogel was losing his grip on the team as it faltered late in the regular season.

Several media outlets reported that Vogel was coaching for his job in the playoffs last year when the Pacers, who earned the No. 1 seed in the East, fell behind to Atlanta, the No. 8 seed, in the opening round. Eventually, the Pacers rallied to beat the Hawks 4-3 in the series, and then Washington in the second round before falling to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in the conference finals.

The contract extension could be seen as a vote of confidence for Vogel at a critical time. During the past off-season, the Pacers lost starter Lance Stephenson to free agency and all-star Paul George to a broken leg that will keep him out at least several months and possibly the entire season.

“We’re very happy to extend Frank’s contract,” Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said in a written statement. “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.”

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue my tenure as Pacers’ coach,” Vogel said in a statement. “It’s an honor to represent this franchise and lead this team. I look forward to the challenge ahead. I’m grateful to have had good, coachable teams along with coaching staffs that have been second to none.”