University of South Florida men’s basketball coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim has died following complications during a medical procedure according to Tampa Bay Times.
The married father of three, died on Thursday (Oct 24) after suffering from an undisclosed illness.
Abdur-Rahim was widely deemed one of the rising stars in the collegiate game. Though he had been absent from recent Bulls practices, the news of his death shocked peers, players and the school community.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly said in a statement. “He was authentic, driven, and his infectious personality captivated all of Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a lasting impact on our student-athletes, the University, and the community. We are supporting those closest to him, including his family, team, and athletics staff, to ensure they have the resources they need to deal with this tremendous loss.”
Prior to being hired at USF, Abdur-Rahim coached Kennesaw State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023. In four years, he went from coaching a one-win program in his first season at Kennesaw State to overseeing a 26-9 group out of the ASUN that nearly upset Xavier in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In his four years at Kennesaw State, Abdur-Rahim’s teams at least doubled their win total from the prior season. Prior to Abdur-Rahim’s coaching job, no school had ever gone from a one-win season to making the NCAA Tournament in a four-season span.
Abdur-Rahim was one of 13 siblings and one of six brothers to play college basketball. He is the younger brother of NBA star Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Prior to joining the Bulls, he won acclaim for turning around the Kennesaw State basketball program.
“We are heartbroken over the passing of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” read a social media post from the USF Men’s Basketball X account. “A tremendous man & leader with an infectious personality that was a shining light to all he encountered. Our thoughts & prayers are with his family, friends and everyone that he left a lasting impact on.”