“Devastated”: USF football coach Alex Golesh reacts to the sudden death of USF basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
USF football coach Alex Golesh joined many from the college sports fraternity to mourn the loss of USF men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who died at the age of 43, as per the news shared by the school on Thursday. He passed away due to complications during surgery he underwent at a Tampa-area hospital.
"We are heartbroken over the passing of Coach Abdur-Rahim. A tremendous man & leader with an infectious personality that was a shining light to all he encountered. Our thoughts & prayers are with his family, friends and everyone that he left a lasting impact on," USF basketball tweeted.
Reacting to the news, Golesh shared his condolences to Amir Abdur-Rahim's family. He is survived by his wife Arianne and their three children.
"I am devastated by the sudden passing of my good friend Amir Abdur-Rahim, an outstanding man, husband, father and leader who brought tremendous positive energy to all he encountered," Golesh tweeted.
"My heart breaks for his wife, Arianne, his three children, extended family and many friends. My prayers and those of our entire football program are with them as well as his players and staff during this incredibly difficult time. Rest in Peace my brother!"
USF AD pays tribute to the memory of Amir Abdur-Rahim
University of South Florida's athletic director, Michael Kelly, expressed the coach's impact on the program while mourning him.
“He was authentic, driven, and his infectious personality captivated all of Bulls Nation,” Kelly said. “Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a lasting impact on our student-athletes, the university and the community. We are supporting those closest to him, including his family, team and athletics staff, to ensure they have the resources they need to deal with this tremendous loss.”
The sudden death comes a year after Amir Abdur-Rahim led the program to the American Athletic Conference’s regular-season championship. The Georgia native joined South Florida last season, leading them to a 25-8 record and 16-2 in conference. He also won a game in the NIT before being eliminated in the second round.
Before joining the Bulls, Abdur-Rahim led Kennesaw State to a 19-65 record in his first three seasons before rebounding with 26-9 and an NCAA Tournament appearance in his fourth season.