One of college basketball’s young coaching stars has died unexpectedly.
South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died at a Tampa-area hospital on Thursday, the school announced. He was 43.
Abdur-Rahim was undergoing a medical procedure and died due to complications that arose during the procedure, South Florida officials said.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” said Vice President for Athletics, Michael Kelly, 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.”
Considered one of the sports rising stars, Abdur-Rahim was the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2023.
He led the Bulls to a 25-8 record, their first regular-season conference championship and first-ever top 25 ranking during the regular season.
USF lost in the second round of the NIT in what was its first postseason appearance since 2012.
His stint in Tampa followed a 4-year run at Kennesaw State where he took the Owls from a one-win season in 2019-20 to an Atlantic Sun Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2022-23.
A graduate of Southeastern Louisiana, he also spent time as an assistant at Georgia and Texas A&M.
“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 is survived by his wife, Arianne, and three children.
