(Updated with the latest information).

Amir Abdur-Rahim, head coach of the South Florida men’s basketball team, passed away on Thursday, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times and confirmed by the university.

The 43-year-old coach was preparing to start his second season with the Bulls. The Tampa Bay Times indicated he had been suffering from an undisclosed illness. Abdur-Rahim was the younger sibling of NBA player Shareef Abdur-Rahim and was viewed as an emerging talent in college basketball coaching.

According to a statement from South Florida, Abdur-Rahim died from complications during a medical procedure at a hospital in the Tampa area.

“All of us at South Florida Athletics are deeply saddened by the loss of Coach Abdur-Rahim,” said USF athletic director Michael Kelly. “He was genuine, passionate, and his vibrant personality resonated with everyone in Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim had a significant and lasting influence on our student-athletes, the university, and the wider community. We are providing support for those close to him, including his family, team, and athletics staff, to ensure they have the assistance they need to cope with this great loss.”

USF president Rhea Law also expressed her condolences:

“In just a short period, Coach Abdur-Rahim made a profound impact on the University of South Florida. During his inaugural season as our head coach, he demonstrated incredible enthusiasm, achieved remarkable success, and created unforgettable moments for Bulls fans. Throughout my time working with Coach Abdur-Rahim, I found his leadership truly inspiring, and I respected his genuine efforts to connect with our entire student body. His legacy will remain in our student-athletes, coaching staff, and the broader university community.”

AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti also released a statement following Abdur-Rahim’s death, saying:

“We are heartbroken about the untimely death of Amir Abdur-Rahim. In just five years as a head coach, Amir distinguished himself as one of the finest in college basketball, winning titles in two conferences and leading both South Florida and Kennesaw State to new heights of achievement.

“More importantly, he achieved success with integrity and class, exemplifying true leadership among his peers and student-athletes. He fully embraced the mission of education through athletics.”

In his debut season with the Bulls in the 2023-24 college basketball season, Abdur-Rahim led the team to a record of 25-8, culminating in their first American Athletic Conference regular-season championship. Unfortunately, USF did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Prior to his tenure at USF, he gained recognition for revitalizing the Kennesaw State basketball program.

In his first year at Kennesaw State, the Owls recorded a dismal 1-28, but under his guidance, the team’s performance improved to 5-19 in 2020-21, then 13-18 in 2021-22, and finally 26-9 in 2022-23, earning a spot in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Following this accomplishment, Abdur-Rahim was appointed as the USF coach on March 29, 2023.

As noted in his USF biography, Abdur-Rahim was a father of three and married to Arianne Buchanan.