USF men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim dies at 43

TAMPA, Fla. -- South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who led nan Bulls to nan American Athletic Conference's regular-season title a twelvemonth ago, has died, nan schoolhouse announced Thursday. He was 43.

The schoolhouse said he died from complications that presented while he was undergoing a process astatine a Tampa-area hospital.

“He was authentic, driven, and his infectious characteristic captivated each of Bulls Nation," USF diversion head Michael Kelly said. "Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a lasting effect connected our student-athletes, nan assemblage and nan community. We are supporting those closest to him, including his family, squad and athletics staff, to guarantee they person nan resources they request to woody pinch this tremendous loss.”

Abdur-Rahim was a rising prima successful nan coaching world. He went 19-65 successful his first 3 seasons astatine Kennesaw State but enjoyed awesome occurrence complete nan adjacent 2 seasons. His 2022-23 squad astatine Kennesaw State went 26-9 and made nan NCAA Tournament, earning him nan changeable to coach astatine USF.

He erstwhile quipped he “had nary clue” what he was doing during his first play arsenic a caput coach, erstwhile Kennesaw State won conscionable once.

Abdur-Rahim was an contiguous occurrence pinch USF and was nan unanimous prime arsenic nan AAC's coach of nan twelvemonth past season. The Bulls went 25-8, won nan convention regular-season title, won a crippled successful nan NIT and celebrated nan program's first-ever ranking successful nan AP Top 25 on nan way.

“Honestly, I learned from my mistakes,” Abdur-Rahim told The Associated Press astatine nan time. “Early connected astatine Kennesaw, I wanted everything correct away. And truthful my patience and really I responded to things wasn’t arsenic good. ... And I judge wholeheartedly, a squad is only going to beryllium arsenic bully arsenic their coach’s response. And I effort to respond nan correct way.”

USF President Rhea Law lauded nan effect he had connected campus.

“Throughout my clip moving pinch coach Abdur-Rahim, I was continually inspired by his leadership, and genuinely admired his sincere attack to connecting pinch our full student body,” Law said. “His power connected our student-athletes, coaching unit and nan assemblage organization will unrecorded connected forever.”

This season’s USF squad was picked 3rd successful nan AAC preseason poll. It is scheduled to play an accumulation crippled connected Oct. 30 against Edward Waters, past opens nan play against No. 21 Florida successful Jacksonville connected Nov. 4.

“This is genuinely a unspeakable tragedy,” George Washington coach Chris Caputo posted connected societal media. “Amir was a bully man and an fantabulous coach. Please believe for him and his family.”

Abdur-Rahim and his woman had 3 children, USF said. Abdur-Rahim had 12 brothers and sisters; 1 of his brothers is G League president and erstwhile NBA subordinate Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

“I americium devastated by nan abrupt passing of my bully friend Amir Abdur-Rahim, an outstanding man, husband, begetter and leader who brought tremendous affirmative power to each he encountered,” USF shot coach Alex Golesh said. “My bosom breaks for his wife, Arianne, his 3 children, extended family and galore friends.”

NCAA elder vice president Dan Gavitt called Abdur-Rahim's decease “heartbreaking.”

“Amir was specified a vibrant and talented coach, and an moreover amended man,” Gavitt said.

AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti echoed those sentiments, saying Abdur-Rahim “won nan correct way, pinch people and grace.”

“In only 5 years arsenic a caput coach, Amir established himself arsenic 1 of nan champion successful assemblage basketball, winning championships successful 2 conferences and taking some South Florida and Kennesaw State to unprecedented levels of success,” Pernetti said.

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AP Basketball Writers Tim Reynolds and Aaron Beard contributed to this report.

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