South Florida basketball coach dies at age 43 after complications from surgery

One of college basketball's young coaching stars has died unexpectedly.

South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died Thursday at a Tampa-area hospital, the school said. He was 43.

Abdur-Rahim underwent a medical procedure and died from complications that occurred during the procedure, South Florida officials said.

“All of us at South Florida Athletics mourn with Coach Abdur-Rahim’s family,” Michael Kelly, vice president of athletics, said in a statement. “He was authentic, ambitious and his infectious personality captivated the entire Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a lasting impact on our student-athletes, the university and the community. We support 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.”

Abdur-Rahim is considered one of the sport's rising stars and was the 2023 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

He led the Bulls to a 25-8 record, their first regular-season conference championship, and their first top-25 finish during the regular season.

USF lost in the second round of the NIT, which was its first postseason appearance since 2012.

His stint in Tampa was followed by a four-year run at Kennesaw State, where he led the Owls from a one-win season in 2019-20 to an Atlantic Sun Tournament title and a berth in the 2022-23 NCAA Tournament.

A graduate of Southeast Louisiana, he also served as an assistant at Georgia and Texas A&M.

“Coach Abdur-Rahim has made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida in a very short period of time. “In his first season as our head coach, he brought unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success and helped create unforgettable memories for Bulls Nation,” said USF President Rhea Law.

“While working with Coach Abdur-Rahim, I was continually inspired by his leadership and truly admired his genuine approach to connecting with our entire student body. His impact on our student-athletes, coaching staff and university community will endure forever.”

Abdur-Rahim leaves behind his wife Arianne and three children.