The Frank Vogel experiment in Phoenix is over.
The Suns are searching for a new head coach after firing Vogel, the team announced on Thursday, which came less than two weeks after the Timberwolves swept Phoenix in their first-round NBA playoff series.
“As we said at the press conference on May 1, team leadership including myself, Josh Bartelstein, and ownership would be looking across basketball operations to determine what changes needed to be made,” said Suns president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones. “After a thoughtful review of the season, we concluded that we needed a different head coach for our team. We appreciate Frank’s hard work and commitment.
“We are here to win a championship and last season was way below our expectations. We will continue to evaluate our operation and make the necessary changes to reach our championship-caliber goals. We all take accountability, and it’s my job, along with Josh and ownership, to build a championship team.”
Mike Budenholzer — who the top-seeded Bucks fired last May following a first-round playoff ouster by the Heat — reportedly will be a prominent part of the Suns’ coaching search.
Budenholzer was dismissed after five seasons just two years after he coached Milwaukee to its first NBA title in half a century.
The Suns finished the regular season with a 49-33 record and the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.
But there were issues between Vogel, 50, and the players, with Kevin Durant reportedly unhappy with how he was being used.
