Amir Abdur-Rahim, head men's basketball coach at the University of South Florida, died Thursday at age 43 following complications from a medical procedure, the university confirmed.
Videos by FanBuzz
The 43-year-old coach had recently been absent from team practices, though his death came as a shock to many. Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times reported that Abdur-Rahim had been contending with an aggressive illness.
"We are heartbroken over the passing of Coach Abdur-Rahim," the university's basketball program wrote in a statement posted on social media. "A tremendous man & leader with an infectious personality, he was a shining light to all he encountered. Our thoughts & prayers are with his family, friends and everyone that he left a lasting impact on."
The younger brother of former NBA player Shareef Abdur-Rahim, he was a three-time all-conference player at Southeastern Louisiana before transitioning into coaching. His coaching career included assistant roles at Murray State, Charleston, Texas A&M, and Georgia before he became head coach at Kennesaw State in 2019. There, he rebuilt a struggling program, leading Kennesaw State to a 26-9 season and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023, a notable turnaround from their 1-26 record his first year.
Abdur-Rahim joined South Florida for the 2023-24 season, guiding the Bulls to a 25-8 record, including a 16-2 conference mark. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Per WFLA-TV: "Now, there is a memorial set up in the beloved coach's honor filled with flowers, hats, balloons, and more. ... The Georgia native joined the coaching staff in March of 2023 and led the team to their first regular season conference championship, with a 25-8 record. That record is the most wins in the basketball program's history."
