Tyronn Lue‘s surprise leave of absence has put the coaching profession in focus as several coaches have dealt with health issues this year.
Coach Frank Vogel remembered speaking with longtime assistant coach Brian Shaw after a practice in the 2012 season. Vogel was in his first full season as the Indiana Pacers’ head coach (albeit a lockout-shortened season). And Shaw saw how hard the young coach was working.
Shaw pulled Vogel aside and told him he needed to slow down. He was going too fast, trying to do too much in the film room and to prepare his team.
That is kind of how Vogel is wired. He drives himself hard, having worked his way up from the film room to the bench. It was almost like he had to prove himself in his first head coaching job.
Now in his eighth season as a head coach, his second with the Orlando Magic, things are a bit different. Vogel still drives himself hard and loves the work and daily grind of being a head coach. But he understood life needs a reset.
That reality has come into even greater focus this season. Particularly Monday when Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue announced he was taking a leave of absence after experiencing several health problems throughout the season.
Magic fans may remember when Lue left a game in Orlando in the middle of the first half with an undisclosed illness. It appears that incident was in connection with the illness Lue has been experiencing throughout the year.
"“It’s concerning,” Vogel said Monday. “I don’t want to say frightening. It’s definitely eye-opening. This is a very stressful profession. Not just coaching, but head coaching at this level and all the variables you have to have on your mind 24/7. It does take a toll on your health. You have to be very cognizant of what is going on with your body. You have to make sure you are taking care of your body and your mind.”"
This follows Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford taking an extended leave of absence with similar health issues.
With a lot of focus coming toward player health and safety, coaches now are facing increased health concerns. They work tireless hours and go through the same travel their teams go through. They have to find a proper physical and mental balance too.
That is easier said than done.
Orlando Magic
They are naturally detail-oriented. And they have to put in countless hours to prepare their teams for the grind of an 82-game season. Unlike other levels of basketball where there are days of practice to implement and install gameplans, NBA coaches rarely have a full practice to get things in. A lot of a NBA team’s success comes from the preparation the coaching staff makes.
It can be a miserable existence. Especially with a team that is losing.
There has been a long-running Internet meme that Vogel has aged significantly since taking the head coaching job as the Magic. Coaching the Magic has at least outwardly aged Vogel — or so the joke goes.
It is true Vogel has gone with a beard and embraced his thinning hair. Vogel has talked at times about finding balance.
He said he focuses on stepping away from work and makes sure he gets his time away from his job. That might mean spending time with family when he can and making sure he is present with his family. He said when he is home he will steal an hour at work while his kids are working on homework or out at practices or other extra-curricular activities.
But Vogel said he tries to find balance by leaving his work in the office when he can. That conversation with Shaw resonated with him. Advice passed down to him from Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers.
It is still not always easy to get away. Vogel said the toughest thing to do is to remove his emotions when he gets home. And with the team’s losing, that has been a bit more difficult.
"“It’s not always easy,” Vogel said. “There is so much at stake. You invest so much of your time and energy. This job consumes you. You have to be intentional about putting that stuff out of your mind.”"
And the expectation remains for him and every coach to be fully committed to the team. Especially with how poor the Magic have played, any time away from the team seemingly is something to criticize.
Of course, Vogel is a human being too. Even Vogel admits he does not always follow his own advice. He is stubborn about giving up on work.
Coaching is not work to him. Watching tape and breaking down an opponent is therapeutic and rewarding to him. He wants to roll up his sleeves and get to work.
Head coach in the NBA is a stressful job. It has weighed on Vogel plenty. The end of last season seemed particularly tough on him and players seemed to notice how much the team’s losing affected him.
He has not to this point shown any health breakdowns from coaching. Vogel has found plenty of balance. And found a way to get away from a difficult team and a difficult situation with the Magic.
Yet, he has maintained the optimism to get to work and try to get more from this Magic team. Whether that means he will still be the head coach after this season is still undetermined.
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But Vogel has worked to maintain his health and find balance in a demanding job. A job that is taking its toll on several of his fellow coaches this year.