USF Basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, Florida's opening opponent, passes away at 43

USF men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim passed away Thursday following complications during a medical procedure, the university announced.

He was 43.

Abdur-Rahim, hired in March 2023, led the Bulls to a historic turnaround in his first season, finishing 25-8 and capturing the program's first American Athletic Conference regular-season title and fell just short of the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2012.  

USF athletic director Michael Kelly described Abdur-Rahim as "authentic, driven, and infectious," emphasizing the lasting impact he had on student-athletes and the community.

As our sister site Green, Gold, and Bold put it: "In his one season with USF, he brought so much hope to a program that had wandered lost through so many lost seasons."

Abdur-Rahim was the younger brother of former NBA player Shareef Abdur-Rahim. His coaching career included stints at Georgia, Texas A&M, and Kennesaw State. At Kennesaw State, he orchestrated a remarkable rebuild, going from a 1-28 season in 2019-20 to a 26-9 campaign and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022-23.

USF President Rhea Law praised Abdur-Rahim's enthusiasm and success, noting the "unforgettable memories" he created for Bulls fans. American Athletic Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti added that Abdur-Rahim "won the right way, with class and grace."

Abdur-Rahim is survived by his wife, Arianne, and their three children.

Florida is set to open their season in Jacksonville against USF on November 4. No word yet on who USF will tab as their interim coach.