KENNESAW, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A former Kennesaw State University basketball coach — who led the Owls to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance — died this week.

Amir Abdur-Rahim, the head basketball coach for four seasons at KSU, died on Thursday at a Tampa hospital after complications from a medical procedure. He was only 43 years old.

His family, friends, former athletes and coaches celebrated his life on Sunday inside Kennesaw State’s Convocation Center.

The Marietta native led KSU basketball to its first March Madness berth after winning the 2023 Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament titles.

“Under his leadership, we witnessed the transformation of a struggling basketball program into a contender that reached the heights of March Madness,” Kennesaw State University President Kathy Schwaig said.

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Abdur-Rahim was also an assistant at the University of Georgia while Tom Crean was coaching.

“He wanted to be a head coach and wanted to come home,” Crean said. “He wanted to build in the city that he was born and raised in.”

Abdur-Rahim was the head men’s basketball coach at the University of South Florida and had just finished his first season there.

He was the unanimous choice for American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after the university’s 25-8 record (16-2 AAC) and led the program to its first-ever regular season conference title.

A graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, Abdur-Rahim was a three-time All-Southland Conference guard for the Lions, finishing his career ranked seventh in the record books for points scored and second for three-pointers made and steals.

As a freshman at Garden City (Kansas) Community College, he ranked No. 24 nationally in scoring, averaging 19.1 points per game.

Before playing college basketball, Abdur-Rahim shined bright at Joseph Wheeler High School in Marietta.

His old coach Doug Lipscomb had high praise for his former star player.

“When Amir got here, I saw a change in the community,” he said. “I saw a change in the pride of this school.”

The University of South Florida has also planned a ceremony. That service will take place at 11 a.m. next Saturday at its basketball arena in Tampa.

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