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USF head men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died on Thursday after suffering complications during a medical procedure, the school announced.
He was 43.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” vice president for athletics, Michael Kelly, said in a 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.”
Abdur-Rahim was hired by USF ahead of the 2023–24 season and led the Bulls to a 25-8 record, an American Athletic Conference regular season title and a berth in the NIT. Prior to coaching for USF, he spent four seasons as the head coach at Kennesaw State, turning a team that went 1-28 in his first season to a 26-9 team in his final year, which included a berth in the NCAA tournament.
Before his arrival, the USF men’s basketball team had just one winning season (2018-19) in the previous 11 years.
“In a very short time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida,” USF president Rhea Law said in a statement. “In his first season as our head coach, he brought an unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success and helped generate unforgettable memories for Bulls Nation. 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.”
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