Former Lakers championship coach Frank Vogel joins Steve Kerr’s staff as the Warriors’ associate head coach.
The Golden State Warriors are adding championship head coaching experience besides Steve Kerr.
Frank Vogel is joining the staff as associate head coach, giving Golden State a former NBA title-winning coach in its top assistant role, the team announced on Thursday.
Vogel coached the Los Angeles Lakers to the 2020 championship, leading a team built around LeBron James and Anthony Davis through the NBA’s pandemic-era postseason in Florida.
His arrival gives Kerr an assistant who has managed playoff series, coached established stars and handled the daily responsibilities of leading an NBA team.
The move was previously reported in July. The announcement now puts Vogel’s addition within Golden State’s preparations for the upcoming season.
Vogel Brings Championship Experience
Vogel’s Lakers title remains the most significant achievement of his head coaching career. That championship required navigating an unusual environment while maintaining a team’s focus through an extended playoff run.
He also coached the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns. His Indiana tenure included consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearances in 2013 and 2014.
Apr 7, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach SteveKerr(left) talks to Los Angeles Lakers head coachFrankVogelafter the game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsThose stops exposed Vogel to different roster constructions and different expectations. In Golden State, he will apply that experience from an assistant’s position, with Kerr continuing to lead the team.
The arrangement gives the Warriors another perspective during game planning and another experienced voice when adjustments are needed.
An associate head coach can help review opponents, identify recurring problems and communicate solutions throughout a season. How those duties are divided will depend on Kerr’s staff structure.
Apr 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks assistant coachFrankVogellooks on during the second half against the Orlando Magic at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesGolden State’s announcement does not, by itself, establish that Vogel will have exclusive responsibility for the defense or any other specific area.
What Vogel Can Add Beside Kerr
Vogel’s background makes the defensive possibilities an obvious point of interest. His best teams have demonstrated the value of protecting the paint and maintaining disciplined positioning around that protection.
Applying those ideas requires adapting to the players available. A coaching approach that succeeds with one roster cannot simply be transferred without accounting for differences in size, mobility and individual strengths.
Oct 6, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks assistant coachFrankVogelwatches the game between the Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Dickie's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesThat is where the collaboration with Kerr becomes significant. The Warriors can draw on Vogel’s experience while determining which adjustments fit their personnel and existing system.
The same applies during games. Recognizing how an opponent is attacking a lineup is useful only if the staff can communicate a workable response and players can execute it.
Vogel’s addition gives Golden State another coach accustomed to making those decisions under playoff pressure. It also creates an experienced partnership at the top of the bench.
A prominent coaching hire cannot establish how far a team will advance. Its value comes through preparation, communication and the adjustments that improve possessions throughout the year.
For the Warriors, Vogel represents an opportunity to strengthen that process with a coach who has already led a team to the NBA’s biggest prize.
