By: Nolan Alexander
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State University mourns the loss of former men's basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away Thursday.
Abdur-Rahim led KSU to its first appearance in March Madness after winning the 2023 Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament titles. A native of Marietta, Ga., he spent four seasons with KSU, doubling the program's win total every season that culminated in a postseason run that captured the hearts of Owl Nation.
Abdur-Rahim earned ASUN Coach of the Year and NABC District 3 Coach of the Year honors and was named the 2023 Hugh Durham Award winner by CollegeInsider.com. He was also named the Georgia Men's College Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, and a finalist for the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award.
Abdur-Rahim had completed his first season as the University of South Florida's head coach. He was a unanimous choice for American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after USF's 25-8 record (16-2 AAC) and claimed the program's first-ever regular season conference title.
"I share my heartfelt prayers and sympathy to Amir's wife, Arianne, his two daughters, Laila and Lana, and a son, Aydin. Amir Abdur-Rahim left a legacy not only at Kennesaw State, but throughout his life. Owl Nation will forever remember how he molded young men into champions on the court and in their lives," said KSU Director of Athletics Milton Overton.
