South Florida men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died Thursday while undergoing a medical procedure, the school confirmed. Abdur-Rahim was 43.
The school said in a statement that complications arose during his treatment at a Tampa-area hospital.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” 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.”
Abdur-Rahim was seen as a rising star in the profession and a potential major program coach. He led a remarkable turnaround in his first season with the Bulls last year, earning unanimous American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors. He coached South Florida to a school-record 25 victories, its first regular-season conference title ever, its first appearance in the polls and its first NIT appearance in more than a decade.
“In a very short time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida,” school president Rhea Law said. “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.”
Before taking over the Bulls in March 2023, Abdur-Rahim, a Georgia native, took Kennesaw State to 26 wins and its first trip to the NCAA Tournament after the program went 1-28 in his season at the helm (2019-20).
The Southeastern Louisiana graduate also spent time as an assistant at Georgia and Texas A&M.
Abdur-Rahim is survived by his wife, Arianne Buchanan, and three children, Laila, Lana and Aydin. His older brother, Shareef, was a longtime forward in the NBA.
Abdur-Rahim’s death comes less than a week before South Florida’s scheduled exhibition against Edward Waters. The school did not announce an interim coach.
(Photo: Chris Jones / Imagn Images)
