USF mourns the loss of men’s basketball coach
The sports world is mourning the loss of University of South Florida’s men’s basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim.
Abdur-Rahim died on Oct. 24 during a surgical procedure at a Tampa area hospital. He was just 43 years old.
Hundreds gathered on Sunday at Kennesaw State — where Abdur-Rahim coached from 2019 to 2023 before he joined the Bulls family.
Friends, family and colleagues remembered him not just as a coach but as a true mentor and friend. Kennesaw State president Kathy Schwaig says he left a lasting impression.
“As we reflect on the time with us it’s impossible not to be moved by the profound impact on our lives and our university. When I think of Coach Amir I think of a man who was always positive, full of energy and one who walked and lived with intentionality and contagious momentum that made you want to walk alongside him,” Schwaig said.
At USF, Abdur-Rahim led the bulls to 25 wins in 2023, setting a new university record. With him as their coach, the team cut down basketball nets as AAC champions and brought out new crowds to the Yuengling Center.
Tributes have been pouring in, including from USF football coach Alex Golesh who tweeted:
Additionally, USF athletic director Michael Kelly said “I pray that we honor him by staying united as a bulls nation and sending all the love in the world to the Abdur-Rahim and USF Men’s Basketball family.”
Players and staff members say Abdur-Rahim had a unique leadership style, even when he won Coach of The Year at the American Athletic Conference, he said he wanted to change it to “staff of the year,” because no coach can lead a team alone.
USF will hold a memorial for Coach Abdur-Rahim this Saturday, Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Yuengling Center.
His family requests that people honor his memory by donating to the Future Foundation, an organization that assists underserved middle and high school students in Atlanta.
Credits
Anchors: Victoria Harris
Reporter: Samantha Allen
Editor: Melissa Baldelomar
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