Amir Abdur-Rahim passed away due to complications of a medical procedure. Whatever that was.
This guy was slaying it. And a few folks here brought him up as a candidate for our opening.
South Florida head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died Thursday due to complications from a medical procedure at the age of 43. The former Bulls coach was survived by his his wife, Arianne, and three children.
Abdur-Rahim was an undeniably successful coach during his time at the helm of USF and Kennesaw State, as he led the Owls to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance in the 2022-23 season. Prior to his time in Kennesaw, Georgia, he served as an assistant for Murray State, Charleston, Texas A&M and Georgia.
Amir was the brother of 13 siblings, and his brother Shareef played 13 years in the NBA and is the current president of the G-League.
During his time at South Florida, Abdur-Rahim led the Bulls to their first-ever ranking in the AP Top 25 and their first ever American Conference regular-season title. This past season, he was named a Naismith College Coach of the Year semifinalist, a finalist for the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year, and the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year.
“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,” said USF President, Rhea Law in a statement from the university. “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.”
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” said Vice President for Athletics, Michael Kelly in another 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.”
