University of South Florida’s beloved men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim tragically passed away at just 43 years old.
Source: Mitchell Layton / Getty
The university announced the shocking news of his death on Thursday, Oct. 24. He passed away at a hospital in the Tampa area due to complications from a medical procedure. He leaves behind his wife, Arianne Buchanan, and their three children, Laila, Lana, and Aydin.
The USF Vice President for Athletics, Michael Kelly, remembered Abdur-Rahim and his impact on the campus community.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim. 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,” he said.
USF President Rhea Law added:
“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.”
She continued, “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.”
“We are heartbroken over the passing of Coach Abdur-Rahim.
A tremendous man & leader with an infectious personality that was a shining light to all he encountered.
Our thoughts & prayers are with his family, friends and everyone that he left a lasting impact on,” the post said.
Source: Aric Becker/ISI Photos / Getty
Abdur-Rahim’s dynamic coaching took the Bulls team to new heights as he did for other teams with dysfunctional programs. Abdur-Rahim’s leadership took the team its first conference championship with a 25-8 record. In addition to unprecedented success for the team, ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Poll, he was named American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year this year.
As a Southern Louisiana University player, Abdur-Rahim led his school to its only NCAA appearance and first SLC title. Earlier this year, his alma mater inducted him into the Southern Louisiana Hall of Fame.
Before USF, the 18-year coaching veteran doubled the season wins for Kennesaw State, according to CBS Sports. Abdur-Rahim made history with a trajectory from one-win seasons to the NCAA tournament in only four years. At the University of Georgia, Abdur-Rahim helped secure Anthony Edwards before we went on to become the No. 1 NBA draft pick.
Former 13-year NBA star Shareef Abdur-Rahim remembered his brother in a social media post on Friday.
“From God, we come, and to God, we must all return. On behalf of my family, I want to express our gratitude to all who have reached out regarding Amir’s passing. Please remember our family in your prayers. As @sunsetAMIR would say, to God be the Glory,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Our condolences go out to Amir Abdur-Rahim’s family and loved ones.