Amir Abdur-Rahim, the head coach of the University of South Florida (USF) men’s basketball team, passed away on Thursday at the age of 43. USF confirmed that he died following complications from a medical procedure conducted at a hospital in the Tampa area.
Michael Kelly, USF’s vice president for athletics, released a statement regarding the coach’s passing: “All of us with South Florida athletics are grieving with the loved ones of coach Abdur-Rahim. 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.”
Abdur-Rahim had completed just one season with the USF Bulls, where he guided the team to 25 victories and helped them achieve their first-ever ranking in the Associated Press poll. His efforts earned him the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year award.
Prior to his time at USF, Abdur-Rahim coached at Kennesaw State for four seasons, where he led the Owls to their first appearance in the NCAA March Madness tournament in 2023. His coaching career also included stints as an assistant at Murray State, Charleston, Texas A&M, and Georgia.
Amir Abdur-Rahim was also the younger brother of Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who had a 13-year career in the NBA.
