USF Athletic Hall of Fame
A beloved coach who orchestrated one of the most memorable seasons of any USF team while guiding the 2023-24 men’s basketball team to the American Athletic Conference regular-season title and a Top 25 ranking in his first (and only) year.
Abdur-Rahim passed away tragically on Oct. 24, 2024, during a medical procedure, a tremendous loss that greatly impacted the entire University, Tampa Bay area and the athletics community nationally. All Bulls athletic teams wore an “AAR’’ patch on their uniforms in a season-long tribute to the impact he had on so many not just as a winning coach but an outstanding person and connector of the community whose “Love Wins” motto was carried on and recognized far and wide.
Abdur-Rahim was named the 2024 AAC Coach of the Year and NABC District 24 Coach of the Year after leading the Bulls to a program-records of 25 victories overall, 16 conference wins, and a 15-game winning streak, surpassed only four times in the state of Florida Division I men’s basketball history. USF claimed the first regular-season conference title and first Top 25 national ranking (reaching No. 24 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls) in the 53-year history of the program. The excitement around the program generated three consecutive sellout crowds in a rocking Yuengling Center to close the regular season home schedule.
Following his passing, the Amir Abdur-Rahim Student Section was named for him at the Yuengling Center and the AAC named him the Honorary 2025 AAC Coach of the Year while establishing and Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award in his honor.
Prior to arriving at USF, Abdur-Rahim was named the 2023 Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year, NABC District 3 Coach of the Year and Hugh Durham Award winner (Division I Mid-Major Coach of the Year) while leading Kennesaw State to a 26-9 record, A-Sun Tournament title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament.
Abdur-Rahim was posthumously inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame in the Class of 2025, the first to be inducted following his passing, with a special exemption from the voting committee.
