### South Florida Mourns the Loss of Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim

South Florida is grieving after the passing of Amir Abdur-Rahim, the heralded men's basketball coach, at the age of 43. The school announced his untimely death occurred on Thursday due to complications from a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital.

"All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim," shared USF athletic director Michael Kelly in a poignant 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."

In his brief yet impactful tenure, Abdur-Rahim transformed the South Florida men's basketball team, steering them to a program-record 25 wins and their first regular-season title in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). His achievements earned him the prestigious title of AAC Coach of the Year. Remarkably, under his leadership, the Bulls also broke into the men’s AP Top 25 rankings for the first time in school history.

Abdur-Rahim had a history of turning around basketball programs. Before joining South Florida, he revitalized Kennesaw State's men's basketball team, leading them to a 2023 NCAA tournament appearance and winning the Hugh Durham Award as the nation's best mid-major coach. He also clinched the ASUN Coach of the Year award during his tenure.

His coaching career included significant contributions as an assistant at several well-known institutions, including Georgia, Texas A&M, Charleston, Georgia Tech, and Murray State. Notably, while at Georgia, he played a key role in signing top-five recruit Anthony Edwards, who was later the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft. Abdur-Rahim shared a special moment when he contacted Edwards for his blessing before accepting the head coaching position at Kennesaw State.

Abdur-Rahim’s influence extended beyond his coaching prowess. He was a standout player at Southeastern Louisiana for three seasons, earning All-Southland honors and ranking in the top 10 in school history for points, 3-pointers made, and steals.

"In a very short time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida," reflected USF president Rhea Law. "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."

The legacy of Amir Abdur-Rahim will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come, not just for his coaching achievements, but for the profound personal connections he fostered throughout his career.