TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida (USF) is mourning the loss of its head men’s basketball coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away at the age of 43 after battling a serious undisclosed illness.
He is survived by his wife, Arianne Buchanan, their three children, and a large extended family.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” said Vice President for Athletics, Michael Kelly. “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.”
“A Heartbreaking day today. Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim’s passing is a shock to us all. He was an incredible person and friend and I feel blessed to have known him. I will be praying for his family and all those who loved him so much,” said Will Weatherford on X.
“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,” said USF President, Rhea Law. “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, a rising star in the coaching world, had just completed his first season at USF. He led the Bulls to their first-ever regular-season conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. For his remarkable achievements, he was unanimously named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Abdur-Rahim’s coaching career spanned 18 years, with notable successes at Kennesaw State University, where he orchestrated a dramatic turnaround, taking the Owls from a one-win season to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. He was also an assistant coach at Texas A&M and Georgia, contributing to their NCAA Tournament appearances.
Known for his exceptional recruiting skills and dedication to player development, Abdur-Rahim played a key role in developing several NBA players, including Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Abdur-Rahim came from a basketball family. His brother, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, was a 13-year NBA veteran and currently serves as the President of the NBA G League. Another brother, Muhammad Abdur-Rahim, also played college basketball.
Abdur-Rahim’s untimely passing leaves a void in the USF community and the basketball world. His legacy of leadership, dedication, and achievement will be remembered by all who knew him.
“We are devastated to hear of the tragic passing of Amir Abdur-Rahim. In only five years as a head coach, Amir established himself as one of the best in college basketball, winning championships in two conferences and taking both South Florida and Kennesaw State to unprecedented levels of success,” said American Athletic Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti, “More impressively, he won the right way, with class and grace, and was a true leader among his colleagues and student-athletes. He embodied the greater mission of education through athletics in every way.”
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