TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida's head men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim passed away on Thursday. He was just 43 years old.
The university shared that Abdur-Rahim was undergoing a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital when complications arose.
In a statement, USF said Coach Abdur-Rahim will be remembered by students, staff and all of Bulls Nation as "a tremendous man & leader with an infectious personality."
“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," Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly said. "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.”
During this past season, Abdur-Rahim was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. He also led the Bulls to their first regular-season conference championship and to their first-ever top-25 ranking during the regular season.
"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,” USF President Rhea Law said. “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.”
Abdur-Rahim is survived by his wife, Arianna, and their three children.