Jeff Borzello
Shut
Jeff Borzello
ESPN Employees Author
- Basketball recruiting insider.
- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Graduate of College of Delaware.
Pete Thamel
South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, one of many brightest younger coaches in faculty basketball, died Thursday on the age of 43, the varsity introduced.
Abdur-Rahim was present process a medical process at a Tampa-area hospital when he died resulting from issues that arose throughout the process, the varsity mentioned.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the family members of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly mentioned in an announcement. “He was genuine, pushed, and his infectious persona captivated all of Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a long-lasting influence on our student-athletes, the College, and the group. We’re supporting these closest to him, together with his household, crew, and athletics workers, to make sure they’ve the sources they should cope with this large loss.”
Abdur-Rahim guided South Florida to one of many largest turnarounds within the nation final season, main the Bulls to a program-record 25 wins and this system’s first American Athletic Convention regular-season title. Previous to Abdur-Rahim taking up in 2023, the varsity had by no means completed .500 within the AAC and had completed above .500 total simply as soon as since 2012. He was chosen because the AAC Coach of the 12 months.
The Bulls had been additionally ranked within the AP Prime 25 for the primary time at school historical past, incomes a spot for 2 weeks in late February and early March.
“I requested [Kelly], ‘You afraid of heights?'” Abdur-Rahim mentioned at his introductory press convention in March 2023. “‘Since you’re gonna must rise up on that ladder sooner or later to chop down these nets.'”
Abdur-Rahim spent 4 seasons at Kennesaw State earlier than transferring to South Florida, main the Owls to an NCAA event look in 2023. He was the architect of an unbelievable program rebuild, going from one win in his first season on the helm to 26 in his remaining marketing campaign. He received the Hugh Durham Award in 2023, given yearly to the nation’s finest mid-major coach, and was named ASUN Coach of the 12 months.
“There are folks which were right here that care about this program. It was a spot with no identification, however was on the cusp of with the ability to do one thing actual particular,” Abdur-Rahim instructed ESPN after Kennesaw State received the Atlantic Solar event.
“It is nuts, to be trustworthy with you.”
Abdur-Rahim is the youthful brother of former California star and NBA veteran Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who’s now the President of the NBA G League.
A longtime assistant coach, Abdur-Rahim frolicked on staffs at Georgia, Texas A&M, Charleston, Georgia Tech and Murray State. Whereas on Tom Crean’s workers at Georgia, the Atlanta native helped the Bulldogs signal top-five recruit Anthony Edwards, who went on to be the No. 1 total decide within the 2020 NBA draft.
Earlier than Abdur-Rahim left Georgia for Kennesaw State, he referred to as Edwards to get his blessing.
“Signing a man like Anthony, that is a relationship that had been 4 years constructing and within the making. There have been folks round it that I had actual relationships with that trusted myself and the teaching workers at Georgia, that trusted me to be there,” Abdur-Rahim mentioned on the Teaching Origins podcast in 2022. “Earlier than I accepted the job, I referred to as a couple of folks, I referred to as Anthony and I simply mentioned, ‘Hey man, I obtained this chance, however for those who want me right here, I will keep. I am completely OK with it.'”
“I would not have been capable of recruit the gamers that I’ve recruited if it weren’t for these, I name them, actual relationships,” he continued. “Whether or not I obtained the child or not. That particular person over there was going to be OK with me it doesn’t matter what, and I used to be going to be OK with them.”
Abdur-Rahim performed for Billy Kennedy – who he would later coach below at Murray State and Texas A&M – for 3 seasons at Southeastern Louisiana. He was a three-time All-Southland choice and completed within the high 10 in program historical past for factors, 3-pointers made and steals.
“In a really quick time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible influence on the College of South Florida. In his first season as our head coach, he introduced an unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success and helped generate unforgettable recollections for Bulls Nation,” USF president Rhea Legislation mentioned. “All through my time working with Coach Abdur-Rahim, I used to be regularly impressed by his management, and actually admired his honest method to connecting with our complete pupil physique. His affect on our student-athletes, teaching workers and the college group will dwell on eternally.”
Abdur-Rahim and his spouse, Arianne, had three youngsters: two daughters, Laila and Lana, and one son, Aydin.
