Frank Vogel spent almost a decade in Indianapolis, first as an assistant coach and then head coach. He was, at one point, the youngest coach in the NBA. Now he’s older, wiser and able to lean on his experiences that began in the video room and on the court training players. He’s never been above working hands-on with his players.

His time with the Pacers ultimately ended in Indy because of the team’s inability to get past one of the best players of all time. Twice they made it to the conference finals and both times they were shut down by LeBron James’ Miami Heat.

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

Frank Vogel, 45, interviewed for the Lakers’ head-coaching position on Thursday, and by Saturday, he had agreed to terms on a three-year deal. Here are 25 things to know about the Lakers’ new head coach.

1. Vogel and his family remained in Orlando after he was fired just over a year ago. That was mostly done for the stability of his family so that his daughters wouldn’t have to potentially move three times in four years, assuming he took another job in 2019. His oldest daughter, Alexa, started high school and Arianna is completing seventh grade.

2. During his final few years in Indy, Vogel spent time coaching each of his daughters’ soccer teams.

3. Larry Bird moved on from Vogel as Pacers head coach in 2016 seeking a new voice for the team. Immediately, there was interest in Vogel from numerous franchises seeking a new coach. He interviewed for teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks before agreeing to a deal with the Orlando Magic that more than doubled his salary (and included the benefit of no state income tax). However, because Nate McMillan was promoted to Pacers head coach, Vogel wasn’t able to take any of his assistants to Orlando as he had hoped.

4. Vogel had opportunities to be a TV analyst, but his heart is in coaching so he only dabbled in it, making a few appearances on ESPN and NBA TV. He closely studied games daily and kept in close contact with coaches across the league, all while he focused on his health. The Rockets reached out to him earlier this past season about joining Mike D’Antoni’s staff as the defensive coordinator.

5. His first head-coaching opportunity came in January 2011 after Jim O’Brien was fired midseason. The Pacers won more games than they lost to finish the season (20-18) and reached the playoffs.

6. This won’t be the first time that Vogel has coached LeBron James. He did so at the 2014 All-Star Game after the Pacers jumped out to their best start in franchise history. They then lost to the James-led Heat for the third straight postseason.

7. Growing up in Wildwood, N.J., Vogel’s father was a typist and his mother worked at the local high school.

8. Wildwood High School retired his No. 22 jersey in 2014. “A lot of people doubted me,” he said then. “It was then I learned the value of persistence and not listening to those that doubt you.”

Frank Vogel led Paul George and the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. (Tom Szczerbowski / USA TODAY Sports)

9. His favorite player was Dr. J. He’s a big Philadelphia Eagles fan. He enjoys golfing even though he rarely has much free time to hit the course.

10. Vogel started playing college ball at Div. III Juniata College, but later transferred to the University of Kentucky so he could learn under Rick Pitino, whom he strategically met at Five-Star Basketball Camp. He became a team manager and later played on the JV team. His role, in part, was to drive Pitino to speeches — which became a perfect setting to pick Pitino’s brain and absorb everything that was said.

11. Vogel then followed Pitino to the Celtics, beginning his NBA career in the video room. During this stint in Boston, he met his wife, Jen.

12. O’Brien, currently a 76ers assistant coach, is a close friend and mentor. Vogel worked under him while with UK, Celtics, 76ers and Pacers.

13. Vogel understands that playing psychologist comes with the territory as head coach. “I feel like I have a degree in it,” he said in 2014. “That’s part of coaching.”

14. He is not on Twitter. “All that stuff, I kind of feel like my life’s in the public eye anyway,” he told me years ago. “Everybody kind of knows what I’m doing anyway.”

15. Vogel did not play in the NBA, so he values having at least one coach on staff who did. In Indiana, he hired Brian Shaw, who left after two years for his first head-coaching gig in Denver, and Nate McMillan. But he was only allowed to have three assistants in Indiana; in contrast, Luke Walton had six.

16. In an effort to lighten and motivate the room, he often mixes in playful videos while going over tape with the team. Such examples include his “Stupid Human Trick” from David Letterman in 1986 and clips from Rocky.

17. He’s comfortable and considerate in media settings. In 2014, he was the recipient of the Rudy Tomjanovich Award, which annually recognizes a head coach for excellence in cooperation with media and fans.

18. He’ll do whatever the Lakers need in terms of community relations and pushing the brand. He understands — and excels — in that element of the business.

19. Together with center Roy Hibbert, the two mastered verticality, which allows the defender to go straight up to contest a shot even while inside the restricted area.

20. Vogel has a sharp defensive mind and has a strong appetite for analytics. When emphasizing defense, he wants to force turnovers and opponents into the worst shot available. The Pacers led the NBA in defensive rating in both 2013 and 2014.

21. He did not have much of a relationship with Indiana native Brad Stevens before Stevens took the Celtics job. Down in Orlando for summer league in 2013, the two met for dinner, which allowed for Stevens to ask about the transition and coaching pros. Since then, the two coaches have grown closer with Vogel watching Stevens and the Celtics intently this past season.

22. As others often describe him as an optimist, Vogel views himself as a realist. He doesn’t allow for doubt to seep in and pushes a togetherness mentality. To that end, he relentlessly supports his players.

23. Paul George once called him “one of the most influential men in my life.”

24. David West on the “unwavering optimism and belief” from Vogel: “It doesn’t matter how well you played or how bad you played, he doesn’t waver on his belief and trust in how well you can, when everything is right and you’re playing at your best, how good you can be. That hasn’t changed. That’s been a mainstay of his — the ability to keep guys afloat, keep them engaged in the fight.”

25. Ian Mahinmi: “Frank is one of those coaches that are really close to his players. We have his back 100 percent and I think that everybody in this locker room is willing to do whatever for Frank. We’re really ready to go to war for him.”

Top photo of Frank Vogel and LeBron James: Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images