South Florida men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim passed away from complications that arose while having a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital.
He was 43.
Abdur-Rahim, considered one of the brightest young coaches in the sport, led the Bulls to the American Athletic Conference’s regular-season championship a year ago.
“We are heartbroken over the passing of Coach Abdur-Rahim. 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,” USF Men’s Basketball wrote.
We are heartbroken over the passing of Coach Abdur-Rahim.
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. pic.twitter.com/h353f3FNno
— USF Men’s Basketball (@USFMBB) October 24, 2024
“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, according to ESPN.
“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,” Kelly added.
University of South Florida men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died earlier today, the school announced.
He was 43. pic.twitter.com/BFLOnbAub0
— ESPN (@espn) October 24, 2024
Per ESPN:
Abdur-Rahim guided the South Florida men’s team to one of the biggest turnarounds in the country last season, leading the Bulls to a program-record 25 wins and their first American Athletic Conference regular-season title. Prior to Abdur-Rahim taking over in 2023, the school had never finished .500 in the AAC and had ended above .500 overall just once since 2012. He was selected as the AAC Coach of the Year.
The Bulls were also ranked in the men’s AP Top 25 for the first time in school history, earning a spot for two weeks in late February and early March.
“I asked [Kelly], ‘You afraid of heights?’” Abdur-Rahim said at his introductory news conference in March 2023. “‘Because you’re going to have to get up on that ladder one day to cut down those nets.’”
Abdur-Rahim spent four seasons at Kennesaw State before moving to South Florida, leading the Owls to an NCAA tournament appearance in 2023. He was the architect of a dramatic program rebuild, going from one win in his first season at the helm to 26 in his final campaign. He won the Hugh Durham Award in 2023, given annually to the nation’s best mid-major coach, and was named ASUN Coach of the Year.
USF Head Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim promised the school a conference championship & did it in his first season
We lost a good one today. Rest in Peace.
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 24, 2024
Abdur-Rahim was a 2024 Werner Ladder Co. Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Semifinalist.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Amir Abdur-Rahim, the head coach of @USFMBB and a 2024 Werner Ladder Co. Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Semifinalist.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the USF community during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/q77zc3S7hb
— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) October 24, 2024
From the Associated Press:
Abdur-Rahim was an immediate success with USF and was the unanimous pick as the AAC’s coach of the year last season. The Bulls went 25-8, won the conference regular-season title, won a game in the NIT and celebrated the program’s first-ever ranking in the AP Top 25 along the way.
“Honestly, I learned from my mistakes,” Abdur-Rahim told The Associated Press at the time. “Early on at Kennesaw, I wanted everything right away. And so my patience and how I responded to things wasn’t as good. … And I believe wholeheartedly, a team is only going to be as good as their coach’s response. And I try to respond the right way.”
USF President Rhea Law lauded the impact he had on campus.
“Throughout my time working with coach Abdur-Rahim, I was continually inspired by his leadership, and truly admired his sincere approach to connecting with our entire student body,” Law said. “His influence on our student-athletes, coaching staff and the university community will live on forever.”
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