Frank Vogel wasn’t fired by the Indiana Pacers on Thursday but the team told him he would not be back next season.
Larry Bird: "Frank’s not getting fired, his contract is up and I just made the decision not to renew it."
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 5, 2016
The 42-year-old Vogel took over the head coaching position during the 2010-11 season after joining the team as an assistant in 2007. The Pacers reached the playoffs in five of his six seasons as coach and lost in seven games to the Toronto Raptors in the first round this year.
The decision to let Vogel walk is confusing to some, including Adrian Wojnarowski at The Vertical. Vogel is expected to be a highly coveted coach on the free-agent market and there will be plenty of suitors for his services.
Bird: "I’ve decided that it’s time for a new voice around here… This is one of the toughest things I’ve done."
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 5, 2016
It’s important to remember that this was difficult for Bird, who still has his job.
Bird says he spoke with Vogel for half an hour this morning, and Vogel asked him to reconsider his decision and “start all over."
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) May 5, 2016
Getting fired from a job you like is not unlike having someone break up with you. “Can’t we just start over?” Frank, we’re sorry, but we’re ready to see other coaches.
The one season of six the Pacers missed the playoffs under Vogel happened after Paul George broke his leg during the summer of 2014. In the previous two seasons, the Pacers lost in the conference finals to the stacked Miami Heat both times.
There are four coaching openings right now that may consider Vogel to fill their vacancy — Sacramento, Houston, and New York.
