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USF men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim has died at age 43

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USF men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim has died at age 43

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South Florida men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died Thursday, as originally reported by the Tampa Bay Times and confirmed by the university.

Abdur-Rahim, 43, was about to enter his second year with the Bulls. According to the Tampa Bay Times, he was battling an undisclosed illness. Abdur-Rahim is the younger brother of NBA star Shareef Abdur-Rahim and was considered a rising star college basketball coach.

According to a news release from South Florida, Abdur-Rahim was undergoing a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital when he died as a result of the procedure.

“All of us at South Florida Athletics mourn with the family of coach Abdur-Rahim,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly said in a statement. “He was authentic, motivated and his infectious personality captivated the entire Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a lasting impression on our student-athletes, the university and the community. We support 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.”

USF President Rhea Law said:

“Coach Abdur-Rahim has made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida in a very short period of time. In his first season as our head coach, he brought unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success and helped create unforgettable memories for Bulls Nation. Everywhere.” While working with Coach Abdur-Rahim, I was continually inspired by his leadership and truly admired his genuine approach to connecting with our entire student body. His impact on our student-athletes, coaching staff and university community will endure forever. “

In his first season with the Bulls, the 2023-24 college basketball season, they posted a 25-8 record and won the American Athletic Conference regular season title for the first time. However, USF did not make it to the NCAA Tournament. Before taking the job at USF, Abdur-Rahim gained recognition throughout college basketball for turning around the Kennesaw State basketball program.

The Owls went just 1-for-28 in his first season, but he helped the team go 5-19 in the 2020-21 season, 13-18 in the 2021-22 season and 26 in the 2022-23 season: 9 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. After the tournament berth, Abdur-Rahim was hired as USF coach on March 29, 2023.

According to his USF bio, Abdur-Rahim is a father of three and married to Arianne Buchanan.

This story will be updated.

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