By james art
ASSOCIATED PRES
TAMPA, Fla. – South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who led the Bulls to the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship a year ago, has died, the school announced Thursday. He was 43.
The school said he died of complications that arose while undergoing a procedure at a Tampa-area hospital.
“He was authentic, motivated and his infectious personality won over everyone in Bulls Nation,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly said. “Coach Abdur-Rahim is making 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 team, to ensure they have the resources they need to cope with this tremendous loss.”
Abdur-Rahim was a rising star in the coaching world. He went 19-65 in his first three seasons at Kennesaw State, but enjoyed great success over the next two seasons. His 2022-23 team at Kennesaw State went 26-9 and reached the NCAA Tournament, earning him the chance to coach at USF.
He once joked that he had “no idea” what he was doing during his first season as head coach, when Kennesaw State won just once.
Abdur-Rahim was an immediate success with USF and was unanimously named the AAC Coach of the Year last season. The Bulls went 25-8, won the conference regular-season title, won an NIT game and celebrated the program’s first AP Top 25 ranking along the way.
“Honestly, I learned from my mistakes,” Abdur-Rahim told The Associated Press at the time. “At the beginning in Kennesaw, I wanted everything right away. And so my patience and the way I reacted to things wasn’t that good… And I believe with all my heart that a team is only as good as its coach’s reaction. And I try to respond in the right way.”
USF President Rhea Law praised the impact he has had on campus.
“Throughout my time working with Coach Abdur-Rahim, I was continually inspired by his leadership and truly admired his genuine approach to connecting with our entire student body,” Lo said. “His impact on our student-athletes, coaching staff and university community will live on forever.”
This season’s USF squad was picked third in the AAC preseason poll. It is scheduled to play an exhibition game on Oct. 30 against Edward Waters, then open the season against No. 21 Florida in Jacksonville on Nov. 4.
“This is truly a terrible tragedy,” George Washington coach Chris Caputo wrote on social media. “Amir was a good man and an excellent coach. Please pray for him and his family.”
Abdur-Rahim and his wife had three children, USF said. Abdur-Rahim had 12 siblings; one of his brothers is G League president and former NBA player Shareif Abdur-Rahim.
“I am devastated by the sudden passing of my good friend Amir Abdur-Rahim, an extraordinary man, husband, father and leader who brought tremendous positive energy to everything he encountered,” USF football coach Alex Golesh said. “My heart goes out to his wife Ariane, his three children, extended family and many friends.”
NCAA Senior Vice President Dan Gavitt called Abdur-Rahim’s death “heartbreaking.”
“Amir was such a vibrant and talented coach and an even better person,” Gavit said.
AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti echoed those sentiments, saying Abdur-Rahim “won the right way, with class and grace.”
“In just five years as a head coach, Amir established himself as one of the best in college basketball, winning two conference championships and leading both South Florida and Kennesaw State to unprecedented levels of success,” Pernetti said.
AP basketball writers Tim Reynolds and Aaron Beard contributed to this report.