KSU and USF plan memorial service for coach Amir Abdur-Rahim

KENNESAW, GA. – Kennesaw State University and the University of South Florida have planned a celebration of the life of coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, their former men’s basketball coach who died in Tampa from medical complications.

Abdur-Rahim, 43, was being treated at a Tampa hospital on Oct. 24 when he died unexpectedly during a procedure.

KSU celebrated the celebration of the life of coach Amir Abdur-Rahim

The doors of the KSU Call Center will open on Sunday at 16:00. The program, which is open to the public, is expected to begin at 5 p.m.

Guests can park on the east deck next to the convention center. For those unable to physically attend, the service will be livestreamed. Here.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to charity in his honor. Future Funda non-profit organization headquartered in South Fulton, Georgia, created by his sister Kadira Abdur-Rahim, his brother Sharif and his brother’s wife Delicia Abdur-Rahim. The Future Foundation’s website says the organization’s goal is to “level the playing field for students from underserved communities in Atlanta.”

USF celebrates the life of coach Amir Abdur-Rahim

University of South Florida (USF), where Abdur-Rahim was preparing for his second year as head coach, also planned a ceremony.

This event will take place at 11 a.m. on November 2 at the Yuengling Center.

FOX 5 Atlanta And FOX 13 Tampa Bay We are working to obtain more information about this event.

The legacy of coach Amir Abdur-Rahim

Amir Abdur-Rahim, a native of Marietta, Georgia and a respected coach in the college basketball community, will be fondly remembered for his contributions both on and off the court.

In his 43 years of life, he was able to touch so many lives in Atlanta on the great national basketball stage. His influence began with drawing as a successful athlete.

Abdur-Rahim was a 2004 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, where he set records while establishing himself as a three-time All-Southern Conference defensive tackle for the Lions. He finished his collegiate career seventh in points scored and second in three-pointers made and steals. As a freshman at Garden City (Kansas) Community College, he ranked 24th nationally in scoring, averaging 19.1 points per game.

Abdur-Rahim hung up his jersey and picked up his whistle for his job as a graduate assistant at Murray State in 2006. He quickly rose through the ranks and was appointed full-time assistant coach.

From Murray State, he went on to attend A&M College in Charleston, Texas, and even helped coach and recruit at the University of Georgia.

In fact, he was so influential in UGA’s recruiting that he was given credit for being instrumental in signing Anthony Edwards, who later became the number one overall pick in the NBA draft.

On April 18, 2019, Abdur-Rahim was resurrected again. He was named head coach at Kennesaw State.

In his four years at KSU, Abdur-Rahim led the Owls to their first NCAA Tournament appearance and an ASUN Conference title in the 2022-23 season. To sweeten the pot, he was named the 2023 ASUN Coach of the Year.

With a stellar track record at KSU, he attended the University of South Florida, where as a freshman he led the team to their first success. Top 25 rating AP Men’s College Basketball Poll.

Some of his other honors as a collegiate basketball coach include:

• 2024 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
• 2024 NABC District 24 Coach of the Year.
• 2023 NABC District 3 Coach of the Year.
• 2023 Hugh Durham Award (Middle Division I Coach of the Year)
• Atlanta Tipoff Club 2023 Georgia Men’s College Coach of the Year

Despite all the accolades, perhaps the most valuable roles for coach Amir Abdur-Rahim were his roles as husband and father.

His legacy lives on through his wife Arianna and three young children; two daughters Leila and Lana and son Aydin.