Wildwood High graduate Frank Vogel now coaching Indiana Pacers

NEWARK, N.J. - Frank Vogel was back in his home state, still trying to put into perspective the dizzying events of the last week, his first as an NBA head coach.

On Jan. 30, Vogel, a 1991 graduate of Wildwood High, was named interim head coach of the Indiana Pacers after the firing of his mentor, Jim O'Brien.

"It's humbling, it's overwhelming," the former 76ers assistant said before Sunday's 105-86 win over the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center, putting the Pacers at 4-0 under their new coach.

Vogel was a point guard who averaged seven points and seven assists in his senior year in high school. Now he holds one of 30 NBA head coaching jobs.

In college, Vogel was a two-year starter at Juniata before deciding to make a move that would shape his professional life. With an eye on coaching, he transferred to the University of Kentucky and became a team manager.

Vogel didn't know anybody at Kentucky, didn't care that his initial overtures were ignored.

Through pure persistence, Vogel became a student manager and later a video coordinator, where he worked closely with O'Brien, a Kentucky assistant to Rick Pitino.

When Pitino was hired as the Boston Celtics' head coach in 1997, O'Brien joined him as an assistant and Vogel was hired as the video coordinator.

After O'Brien replaced Pitino as Celtics head coach, Vogel was named an assistant. Vogel also served under O'Brien as an assistant for their one year together with the 76ers, in 2004-05. He then was an NBA scout for two years before going to Indiana as an assistant under O'Brien in 2007.

The 37-year-old Vogel said even though he replaced his good friend, he was encouraged by O'Brien after the recent firing.

In fact, after Pacers president Larry Bird fired O'Brien, the two of them called Vogel.

"I was floored: Larry and Obie called me together," Vogel said. "Obie said, 'Frank, I am behind this, and you are ready for this, and I support you,' and that made it easy."

Since then, Vogel said he has continued to keep in touch with O'Brien.

It is believed that Vogel will need to lead the Pacers to a major turnaround to get the interim tag removed and return next year. The Pacers are 21-27.

He insists job security isn't on his mind at the moment.

"This was a great win today, and I'm only concerned with winning the next game," Vogel said.

The next one, Tuesday in Miami, should be slightly more challenging.

At the least, Vogel has given the Pacers a refreshing new voice.

"We were missing a little spark, a little confidence, and Frank always finds a way of giving us that confidence before games, reaching out and communicating with each player, and that's special," said Pacers swingman Dahntay Jones, who scored a game-high 18 points off the bench.

Added forward Danny Granger, "He is a good X and O guy, but I think his strength is communicating to the players, getting his point across."

Bird said he felt that Vogel had earned the chance for a promotion.

"He has been with Jim, and Jim was always high on him," Bird said. "I thought I'd give him the opportunity. He is young and knows the game inside out."

Bird insists that Vogel will be given consideration for the job.

"I told Frank when the season is over, he will get a shot like everybody else," Bird said.

Bird is in the final year of his contact and hasn't indicated whether he plans on returning.

Either way, Vogel is enjoying each and every day as an NBA coach. He said he received 200 to 300 text messages the first two days after he was hired.

"I've had so much support from the people of Wildwood and South Jersey," he said.

A number were at the game, including many family members.

"The whole area is buzzing about this," said his father, Frank, who lives in Wildwood. "It's great for the town, that the people see that somebody from a small school can have big things happen."