South Florida men’s basketball Amir Abdul-Rahim has died at the age of 43 after experiencing fatal complications during a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital, the school announced on Thursday (October 24).
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” said Michael Kelly, USF Vice President for Athletics, on the school’s athletics website. “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.
“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. “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.”
Abdur-Rahim was widely considered as one of the brightest young coaches in NCAA men’s basketball, winning the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, leading the Bulls to a 25-8 (16-2 AAC), as well as a conference title, NCAA March Madness Tournament appearance and its first Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches Poll ranking (No. 24 overall) record during the 2022-23 season, his first with the program. The 43-year-old previously went 45-74 (24-41 ASUN Conference) during four seasons at Kennesaw State, which included a 26-9 (15-3) record during his final season.
No additional details on Abdur-Rahim’s death were released as of Thursday evening.
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