Amir Abdur-Rahim, the coach of South Florida’s males’s basketball program, has died. The tragic and surprising information was introduced Thursday by the university. He was 43 years previous.
Abdur-Rahim “was present process a medical process at a Tampa-area hospital when he handed away resulting from problems that arose in the course of the process,” in line with the college.
Abdur-Rahim had been a rising star in teaching in recent times and constructed up an amazing title as a quick-fix wizard. Off the courtroom, his popularity was extremely regarded all through the game. The Bulls went 25-8 final season, Abdur-Rahim’s first with this system, successful the American Athletic Convention with a 16-2 mark and enhancing USF’s win whole by 11 video games from the earlier 12 months. The Bulls’ regular-season AAC title was the primary at school historical past; the group’s 25 wins have been additionally a single-season college file. Because of a school-best 15-game house successful streak, USF broke by means of within the AP Prime 25 below Abdur-Rahim in the course of the 2023-24 season, marking the primary time in program historical past the college had notched such an achievement.
He fairly actually modified damaged applications for the higher, doing it a number of instances in a brief window of his quickly rising observe in school basketball.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the family members of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly stated. “He was genuine, pushed, and his infectious character captivated all of Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a long-lasting impression on our student-athletes, the College, and the neighborhood. We’re supporting these closest to him, together with his household, group, and athletics employees, to make sure they’ve the sources they should cope with this large loss.”
Previous to being employed at USF, Abdur-Rahim coached Kennesaw State to its first NCAA Event look in 2023. In 4 years, he went from teaching a one-win program in his first season at Kennesaw State to overseeing a 26-9 group out of the ASUN that just about upset Xavier within the first spherical of the NCAA Event. In his 4 years at Kennesaw State, Abdur-Rahim’s groups a minimum of doubled their win whole from the prior season. Previous to Abdur-Rahim’s teaching job, no college had ever gone from a one-win season to creating the NCAA Event in a four-season span.
With 18 years of teaching expertise, Abdur-Rahim was extensively revered and well-connected throughout school basketball. He received a number of coach-of-the-year honors at his a number of stops amid his rise within the career. He was 70-82 in 5 seasons total at USF and Kennesaw State.
His introductory press convention in 2023 is value watching (15-minute mark), because it reveals a lot of what made Abdur-Rahim such a magnetic presence.
A local of Marietta, Georgia, Abdur-Rahim was a 2004 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana College. As a participant, he was an All-Southland guard 3 times. He earned his grasp’s from Murray State. He was a rising assistant for years previous to his promotion to guiding Kennesaw State’s program, notably serving to land future No. 1 NBA decide Anthony Edwards when Abdur-Rahim was on employees on the College of Georgia.
Abdur-Rahim was the youthful brother of Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who spent 13 seasons within the NBA.
Amir Abdur-Rahim is survived by his spouse, Arianne Buchanan, and three younger kids: daughters Laila and Lana, and son Aydin.
