​Frank Vogel is joining forces with Steve Kerr. The veteran coach has agreed to come aboard the Golden State Warriors as associate head coach for the upcoming season, a development reported by prominent NBA insider Marc Stein and ESPN’s Shams Charania. Vogel’s return to the league comes after a year spent as an assistant to Jason Kidd with the Dallas Mavericks, marking his first coaching role in the NBA since parting ways with the Phoenix Suns in 2024.
With more than two decades of experience in the NBA, Vogel has a career head coaching record of 250-181. He is best known for guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA title during the league’s COVID-19 bubble season at Walt Disney World in 2020, a landmark achievement highlighted by his strategic leadership and ability to maximize his roster under unprecedented conditions. Vogel’s coaching journey also includes stints with the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic. His time with the Suns lasted for a single season, concluding after a 49-33 campaign, with the franchise deciding to move in a different direction.
The Warriors, under Kerr, endured a 37-45 record last season and failed to secure a postseason berth, marking the second playoff miss in three years for the franchise. The offseason had generated speculation about Kerr’s future with Golden State, but he ultimately signed a two-year contract to remain at the helm earlier this summer, signaling continuity at the top of the organization.
Steve Kerr, who has amassed four NBA titles as a head coach and owns a 604-353 record with Golden State, has steered the team through a period of sustained success, including multiple deep playoff runs and a historic five-year championship window. Last season, however, represented one of the Warriors’ more disappointing campaigns outside of their 2019-20 15-win season, underscoring the need for adjustments and fresh input around Kerr’s system.
In the wake of Vogel’s arrival, the Warriors will also be adjusting their coaching staff. Notably, assistants Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse, who ranked as Kerr’s top deputies last season, departed after their contracts expired. Vogel’s addition bolsters a revamped staff as Golden State aims to regain its championship form, reestablishing the continuity that has defined the Kerr era while integrating Vogel’s defensive-minded approach and his experience managing a variety of rosters and personalities.
This hire represents a collaboration that could influence how the Warriors deploy their lineups, defensive schemes, and late-game decision-making during the upcoming season. Vogel’s track record of tailoring game plans to maximize the strengths of his players, coupled with Kerr’s innovative offense, could yield a balanced framework designed to restore consistency on both ends of the floor. While the exact roster combinations and rotation strategies remain to be seen, Vogel’s reputation as a steadier, veteran voice in the locker room may provide the stability the Warriors need as they navigate the challenges of a competitive Western Conference.
As the league prepares for the new season, Golden State fans will be watching closely to see how Vogel’s influence blends with Kerr’s system and how the coaching staff’s dynamic shapes the Warriors’ approach on a night-to-night basis. The pairing of Vogel and Kerr signals a concerted effort to infuse experience, discipline, and defensive efficiency into a squad seeking to reclaim its status among the league’s elite teams.