Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim: A real one is missed
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
Tampa, FL – A week later and it still doesn’t seem real.
Amir Abdur-Rahim, the head men’s basketball coach at South Florida, died last Thursday from a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital due to complications that arose during the procedure. He leaves behind a wife and three children, among siblings and family.
The basketball coach profession is a fraternity. Coaches know each other through working with one another or from being on the recruiting trail over the years. Some coaches move positions or climbing up in the profession and change, not always for the better. Abdur-Rahim was and remained the same person from Atlanta throughout his success. He was “A Real One.”
Abdur-Rahim was on staff with Tom Crean at the University of Georgia as an assistant coach for one year. He was the lead in recruiting current Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. When he was offered his first head coaching job at Kennesaw State, Abdur-Rahim was not going to take the job until after he spoke with Edwards. He made a promise to the budding star and didn’t want to just leave.
But Abdur-Rahim’s respect for others went beyond the hardwood. He immersed himself into the community at large with every stop he made in his coaching profession.
He was loved by so many of his current or formers players.
Brandon Stroud followed Abdur-Rahim to USF after their historical achievement at Kennesaw State. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard was entering his fifth-year under Abdur-Rahim’s coaching, guidance and mentorship. The success they had together is dwarfed by the affection Stroud expressed on social media.
Basketball is the sport he coached but Abdur-Rahim’s relationship with other colleagues at each stop left an impact. Current USF football coach Alex Golesh talked about the positive impact Abdur-Rahim left on everyone.
USF basketball played its scrimmage game at home against Edward Waters University on Oct. 30. The Bulls interim head coach was Ben Fletcher, who was the associate head and was on Abdur-Rahim’s staff at Kennesaw State.
“This is a difficult time, but I know Coach Amir would want me to do this,” Fletcher said during the press conference. “Know that I don’t take this lightly.”
USF, who won the exhibition 94-51, will wear Abdur-Rahim’s initial on their uniform all season. The Bulls season-opener is Nov. 4th against Florida.
Before the game, the Tigers presented a plague signed by all the players honoring Abdur-Rahim.
Abdur-Rahim was a rising star in the business leading taking over USF during the 2023-24 season before finishing 25-8 in year one. The Bulls went on to win the regular-season, American Athletic Conference title but were left out of the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to taking over in Tampa, Abdur-Rahim made a historical turnaround to a Kennesaw State program that will be remembered for ages to come. The program was 1-28 in his first season, but the Owls improved every season under Abdur-Rahim to 5-19, then 13-18, prior to history being made. KSU improved to a 26-9 record during the 2022-23 season to win the A-Sun conference title and play in the NCAA Tournament. Abdur-Rahim’s name was hot with every college position open after that season. He landed at South Florida and left a lasting impact.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.