INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers signed coach Frank Vogel to a contract extension.
The team did not provide details Monday about the length or terms of the new deal.
Vogel replaced Jim O’Brien as the Pacers coach Jan. 30, 2011, and has led them to the playoffs each of the last two seasons. Last year under Vogel, the Pacers won their first playoff series since 2005. They also led the Heat 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals before losing the next three games.
The Pacers had a rough start this season after losing All-Star swingman Danny Granger to a knee injury, but Vogel has turned things around. Indiana is the Central Division leader at 20-14.
Vogel is 82-56 in his three seasons as a head coach, all with Indiana.
BASEBALL
MLB news
Left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez and Milwaukee finalized a $2.25 million, one-year contract. Gonzalez had a 3.03 ERA and no record in 47 games last year with Washington, holding left-handed hitters to a .179 batting average. …
Texas completed a $10 million, one-year deal for six-time All-Star Lance Berkman to be the Rangers’ designated hitter after Berkman passed a physical.
BASKETBALL
Mad Ants’ Plumlee back with Pacers
The Pacers recalled first-round draft pick Miles Plumlee from the Mad Ants of the NBA’s D-League and signed forward Dominic McGuire to a 10-day contract. McGuire, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward, played nine games earlier this season with New Orleans, averaged 2.1 points and 3.1 rebounds. The moves come one day after Indiana released forward Sam Young.
Howard, Gasol out as Lakers hit road
Dwight Howard (shoulder), Pau Gasol (concussion) and Jordan Hill (hip) will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ upcoming road trip with injuries, leaving the club without its top three big men. The Lakers have four games in six days starting today in Houston. The Lakers say Gasol and Howard are both out indefinitely.
Hawks GM fined
Atlanta general manager Danny Ferry was fined $15,000 by the NBA for inappropriate interaction with game officials after Saturday night’s game against Boston.
Bynum confident of his return
Andrew Bynum said his knees are better and he still plans on playing this season for Philadelphia. Bynum, out all season with bone bruises in both knees, refused to offer a possible return date. He said he should be running and shooting by the end of the week. Bynum has started working out on a treadmill.
FOOTBALL
E. Michigan lands ex-Ball State coach
Eastern Michigan named former Ball State head coach Stan Parrish as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Parrish was an assistant at Ball State in 2005-08 and its head coach in 2008-10.
GOLF
Dustin Johnson leads PGA opener
The PGA Tour season finally got under way in Kapalua, Hawaii, and Dustin Johnson wasted no time taking control in the Tournament of Champions. Johnson shot rounds of 69-66 to take the lead into the final round today. Three days behind schedule because of high wind, the season started on the day its first tournament was supposed to finish. Johnson was at 11-under 135, good enough for a three-shot lead over Steve Stricker.
SOCCER
FIFA honors US player, coach
Lionel Messi became the first four-time winner of the FIFA Player of the Year award after shattering the world record with 91 goals last year for Barcelona and Argentina. Abby Wambach became the first American to win FIFA Women’s Player of the Year since Mia Hamm in 2001 and 2002. Pia Sundhage was voted top women’s coach after leading Wambach and the U.S. team to the gold medal at last summer’s London Olympics.
TENNIS
Defending champs top Aussie seeds
Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka will be the top-seeded players for the Australian Open. The year’s first Grand Slam tournament starts next week. Djokovic is followed by Roger Federer. U.S. Open champion Andy Murray is the third seed, and David Ferrer of Spain the fourth seed. On the women’s side, French Open champion Maria Sharapova is seeded second. Serena Williams, the reigning Wimbledon, Olympic and U.S. Open champion, is third.
TRACK AND FIELD
Carroll hurdler heading to Tech
Sara Crawford of Carroll will continue her career at Indiana Tech. She finished sixth in the 300 hurdles in regionals in 2011 and also ran cross country.
