Amir Abdur-Rahim, the University of South Florida’s head men’s basketball coach, has passed away, ESPN reports. He was 43.
In an official statement from the school’s athletic department, Abdur-Rahim’s passing was confirmed. After undergoing medical treatment at a Tampa area hospital, Abdur-Rahim passed away “due to complications that arose during the procedure.”
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” Michael Kelly, Vice President for Athletics, 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.”
“In a very short time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida. In his first season as our head coach, he brought an unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success, and helped generate unforgettable memories for Bulls Nation,” USF president Rhea Law added”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. His influence on our student-athletes, coaching staff, and the university community will live on forever.”
After becoming head coach at USF, Abdur-Rahim led the team to one of the biggest turnarounds in the country last season. The Bulls posted 25 wins and won their first American Athletic Conference regular-season title in school history. Abdur-Rahim was also selected as the AAC Coach of the Year.
USF was also ranked in the men’s AP Top 25 for the first time in late February and early March. Abdur-Rahim would go on to win the Hugh Durham Award in 2023, given annually to the nation’s best mid-major coach.
During his introductory press conference, Abdur-Rahim set the bar high.
“I asked [Kelly], ‘You afraid of heights?’” Abdur-Rahim said. “‘Because you’re going to have to get up on that ladder one day to cut down those nets.’”
Before coming to USF, Abdur-Rahim served as an assistant coach at Georgia, Texas A&M, Charleston, Georgia Tech, and Murray State. At Georgia, he helped to recruit Anthony Edwards, the future number-one pick of the 2020 NBA draft.
He is also the younger brother of Shareef Abdur-Rahim former NBA star and president of the NBA Development League
Abdur-Rahim is survived by his wife, Arianne, and their three children: daughters Laila and Lana and son Aydin.
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