INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers players want interim coach Frank Vogel to get the full-time gig.

Now, it’s up to team president Larry Bird to make a decision.

It’s been more than a month since the team’s season ended and the waiting game continues.

“I’ll be happy if Frank gets picked,” said center Roy Hibbert before playing in a charity softball game for the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund. “I’ve been with him since I was a rookie, so I hope he gets it. I understand that Larry’s taking his time now, but I’m pulling for him (Vogel).”

Bird has called Vogel the favorite from the beginning of the search, and the team has had several conversations with him. He took over for Jim O’Brien at midseason, went 20-18 to close the regular season and led the team to its first playoff berth since 2006.

“I think Frank did an excellent job, stepping in without the experience of a head coaching job,” Bird said after the season ended. “The way he conducted himself, he brought positive energy to this team. We won more games than we lost. We did it with a young team, a team that’s trying to grow.”

Early in his tenure, Vogel claimed that Eastern Conference powers Boston, Miami and Orlando wouldn’t want to play the Pacers when – not if – they made the playoffs. He introduced “smashmouth” basketball, an approach that focused on attacking the basket instead of O’Brien’s perimeter-oriented game. He moved Tyler Hansbrough, a second-year player, and Paul George, a rookie, into the starting lineup and helped restore Hibbert’s confidence.

It all helped them get into the playoffs and compete well before losing 4-1 to the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.

“I really feel strong about having Vogel around,” George said. “I love him as a coach, as a person. But I have no control over it. I have to just go with whatever Mr. Bird goes with.”

Vogel said as the season ended that he wanted the job and said with confidence that he feels he proved himself. He didn’t expect a decision to be made quickly.

“It’s really up to Larry and the front office,” Vogel said. “Anytime you’re making a decision as important as this, you never want to rush into it. Whatever timetable they decide is fine with me.”

Indiana was interested in Mike Brown, but the former Pacers assistant and Cleveland head coach took the job as Los Angeles Lakers head coach. But the players have favored Vogel since he took over.

“I would like to see Frank get it,” guard Lance Stephenson said. “He helped us out this year. He made us come in more as a group. I hope Larry Bird sees what happened and we can move forward.”

George would like to see a decision made soon.

“It’s still up in the air for me,” he said. “It’s something that I want to know, but it’s something I have no control over.”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Frank Vogel took over for Jim O’Brien at mid-season, went 20-18 to close the regular season and led the team to its first playoff berth since 2006. (Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers players want interim coach Frank Vogel to get the full-time gig.

Now, it’s up to team president Larry Bird to make a decision.

It’s been more than a month since the team’s season ended and the waiting game continues.

“I’ll be happy if Frank gets picked,” said centre Roy Hibbert before playing in a charity softball game for the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund. “I’ve been with him since I was a rookie, so I hope he gets it. I understand that Larry’s taking his time now, but I’m pulling for him [Vogel].”

Bird has called Vogel the favourite from the beginning of the search, and the team has had several conversations with him. He took over for Jim O’Brien at mid-season, went 20-18 to close the regular season and led the team to its first playoff berth since 2006.

“I think Frank did an excellent job, stepping in without the experience of a head coaching job,” Bird said after the season ended. “The way he conducted himself, he brought positive energy to this team. We won more games than we lost. We did it with a young team, a team that’s trying to grow.”

Early in his tenure, Vogel claimed that Eastern Conference powers Boston, Miami and Orlando wouldn’t want to play the Pacers when — not if — they made the playoffs. He introduced “smashmouth” basketball, an approach that focused on attacking the basket instead of O’Brien’s perimeter-oriented game. He moved Tyler Hansbrough, a second-year player, and Paul George, a rookie, into the starting lineup and helped restore Hibbert’s confidence.

It all helped them get into the playoffs and compete well before losing 4-1 to the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.

“I really feel strong about having Vogel around,” George said. “I love him as a coach, as a person. But I have no control over it. I have to just go with whatever Mr. Bird goes with.”

Vogel said as the season ended that he wanted the job and said with confidence that he feels he proved himself. He didn’t expect a decision to be made quickly.

“It’s really up to Larry and the front office,” Vogel said. “Any time you’re making a decision as important as this, you never want to rush into it. Whatever timetable they decide is fine with me.”

Indiana was interested in Mike Brown, but the former Pacers assistant and Cleveland head coach took the job as Los Angeles Lakers head coach. But the players have favoured Vogel since he took over.

“I would like to see Frank get it,” guard Lance Stephenson said. “He helped us out this year. He made us come in more as a group. I hope Larry Bird sees what happened and we can move forward.”

George would like to see a decision made soon.

“It’s still up in the air for me,” he said. “It’s something that I want to know, but it’s something I have no control over.”

Frank Vogel

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers players want interim coach Frank Vogel to get the full-time gig.

Now, it’s up to team president Larry Bird to make a decision.

It’s been more than a month since the team’s season ended and the waiting game continues.

“I’ll be happy if Frank gets picked,” said centre Roy Hibbert before playing in a charity softball game for the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund. “I’ve been with him since I was a rookie, so I hope he gets it. I understand that Larry’s taking his time now, but I’m pulling for him (Vogel).”

Bird has called Vogel the favourite from the beginning of the search, and the team has had several conversations with him. He took over for Jim O’Brien at mid-season, went 20-18 to close the regular season and led the team to its first playoff berth since 2006.

“I think Frank did an excellent job, stepping in without the experience of a head coaching job,” Bird said after the season ended. “The way he conducted himself, he brought positive energy to this team. We won more games than we lost. We did it with a young team, a team that’s trying to grow.”

Early in his tenure, Vogel claimed that Eastern Conference powers Boston, Miami and Orlando wouldn’t want to play the Pacers when — not if — they made the playoffs. He introduced “smashmouth” basketball, an approach that focused on attacking the basket instead of O’Brien’s perimeter-oriented game. He moved Tyler Hansbrough, a second-year player, and Paul George, a rookie, into the starting lineup and helped restore Hibbert’s confidence.

It all helped them get into the playoffs and compete well before losing 4-1 to the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.

“I really feel strong about having Vogel around,” George said. “I love him as a coach, as a person. But I have no control over it. I have to just go with whatever Mr. Bird goes with.”

Vogel said as the season ended that he wanted the job and said with confidence that he feels he proved himself. He didn’t expect a decision to be made quickly.

“It’s really up to Larry and the front office,” Vogel said. “Any time you’re making a decision as important as this, you never want to rush into it. Whatever timetable they decide is fine with me.”

Indiana was interested in Mike Brown, but the former Pacers assistant and Cleveland head coach took the job as Los Angeles Lakers head coach. But the players have favoured Vogel since he took over.

“I would like to see Frank get it,” guard Lance Stephenson said. “He helped us out this year. He made us come in more as a group. I hope Larry Bird sees what happened and we can move forward.”

George would like to see a decision made soon.

“It’s still up in the air for me,” he said. “It’s something that I want to know, but it’s something I have no control over.”

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—Indiana Pacers players want interim coach Frank Vogel to
get the full-time gig.

Now, it’s up to team president Larry Bird to make a decision.

It’s been more than a month since the team’s season ended and the waiting
game continues.

“I’ll be happy if Frank gets picked,” said center Roy Hibbert(notes) before
playing in a charity softball game for the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund. “I’ve
been with him since I was a rookie, so I hope he gets it. I understand that
Larry’s taking his time now, but I’m pulling for him (Vogel).”

Bird has called Vogel the favorite from the beginning of the search, and the
team has had several conversations with him. He took over for Jim O’Brien at
midseason, went 20-18 to close the regular season and led the team to its first
playoff berth since 2006.

“I think Frank did an excellent job, stepping in without the experience of
a head coaching job,” Bird said after the season ended. “The way he conducted
himself, he brought positive energy to this team. We won more games than we
lost. We did it with a young team, a team that’s trying to grow.”

Early in his tenure, Vogel claimed that Eastern Conference powers Boston,
Miami and Orlando wouldn’t want to play the Pacers when—not if—they made the
playoffs. He introduced “smashmouth” basketball, an approach that focused on
attacking the basket instead of O’Brien’s perimeter-oriented game. He moved
Tyler Hansbrough(notes), a second-year player, and Paul George(notes), a rookie, into the
starting lineup and helped restore Hibbert’s confidence.

It all helped them get into the playoffs and compete well before losing 4-1
to the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.

“I really feel strong about having Vogel around,” George said. “I love
him as a coach, as a person. But I have no control over it. I have to just go
with whatever Mr. Bird goes with.”

Vogel said as the season ended that he wanted the job and said with
confidence that he feels he proved himself. He didn’t expect a decision to be
made quickly.

“It’s really up to Larry and the front office,” Vogel said. “Anytime
you’re making a decision as important as this, you never want to rush into it.
Whatever timetable they decide is fine with me.”

Indiana was interested in Mike Brown, but the former Pacers assistant and
Cleveland head coach took the job as Los Angeles Lakers head coach. But the
players have favored Vogel since he took over.

“I would like to see Frank get it,” guard Lance Stephenson(notes) said. “He
helped us out this year. He made us come in more as a group. I hope Larry Bird
sees what happened and we can move forward.”

George would like to see a decision made soon.

“It’s still up in the air for me,” he said. “It’s something that I want
to know, but it’s something I have no control over.”

Cliff Brunt can be reached at http://twitter.com/cliffbruntap.

Read More: Frank Vogel (A – IND), Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are going to re-sign Frank Vogel and remove the ‘interim’ from his coaching title. Why they are taking so long to do this is anyone’s guess. The Pacers are hardly the model of NBA executive-level efficiency. Their own team president isn’t even under contract, and the only thing binding him to his duties is a ‘handshake agreement’ with the owner.

I know. I too often wonder if the brass at Conseco Fieldhouse have any idea how second-rate they look working in this way. Next thing we’ll hear is Larry Bird isn’t being paid with money, but instead receives weekly shipments of beer and beef jerky to his home in Florida.

Regardless, unless Vogel changes his mind, he’s got the job. The only conditions surrounding it are he must, essentially, fire his entire coaching staff.

From Mike Wells at the Indianapolis Star:

Vogel met with team president Larry Bird on Wednesday, and he was informed that he’ll have to hire three assistant coaches if he’s named coach, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation.

Vogel notified assistants Jay DeFruscio, Walter McCarty and Vitaly Potapenko after his meeting with Bird that they will not be part of the staff if he’s the Pacers coach next season.

Longtime assistant Dan Burke is expected to remain on staff.

Wells goes on to say that Bird and owner Herb Simon want a veteran coach and a former player to help Vogel in the locker room. The Pacers had locker room issues at times this season.

Interestingly, the biggest locker room incident last year centered around Larry Bird’s insistence on the team playing malcontent point guard Lance Stephenson over A.J. Price. The Pacers went 1-8 during that little experiment, culminating in a locker room altercation between Stephenson and teammates after a 108-98 loss to the Raptors on March 11.

Two days later, Stephenson was benched for the remainder of the season. The Pacers went 10-5 to close out the month of March, earning a playoff spot.

Call me crazy, but adding a veteran coach and a former player to the bench likely will not quell discontent over unpopular and meddling decisions placed on the coaches and players by management. If Larry Bird wants to help create better locker room harmony, one could suggest that he start by not blowing draft picks on headcase players like Lance Stephenson.

For more on the Indiana Pacers, visit Indy Cornrows.