He won AAC Coach of the Year last season in his first year with the Bulls, leading them to a program-record for wins and a regular-season championship.
Abdur-Rahim was 43 years old. He is survived by his wife, Arianne Buchanan, and three children, daughters Laila and Lana and son Aydin.
“All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly said in a release. “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.
Once given his first head coaching opportunity, Abdur-Rahim quickly established himself as a rising star in the coaching profession. He engineered a remarkable rebuild at Kennesaw State, taking the Owls from one win in his first season to 26 and the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in his fourth season in 2023.
Following that season, Abdur-Rahim left Kennesaw for the South Florida job and pulled off yet another impressive turnaround. After being picked to finish ninth in the American Athletic Conference, Abdur-Rahim led the Bulls to the conference regular-season championship in his first season and set the program’s single-season record for wins. He even lifted the Bulls to a spot in the Associated Press Top 25, the program’s first-ever national ranking.
Abdur-Rahim’s sudden passing comes just days before the start of the 2024–25 season. South Florida is set to open its season on Nov. 4 against Florida in Jacksonville.Kevin Sweeney is a staff writer at Sports Illustrated covering college basketball and the NBA draft. He joined the SI staff in July 2021 and also serves host and analyst for The Field of 68. Sweeney is a Naismith Trophy voter and ia member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
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