AAC Honors Former USF Coach with Sportsmanship Award

The American Athletic Conference announced Wednesday it will continue honoring the legacy of former USF men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim by naming a postseason award in his honor.

The Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award will be presented annually to the men’s basketball student-athlete who “best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, fair play and leadership,” league commissioner Tim Pernett said in an AAC news release. The award will be voted on by the league’s head coaches.

Remembering a Legend

Additionally, the league announced Abdur-Rahim has been named honorary 2024-25 AAC Coach of the Year. As part of the honor, the AAC will donate $15,000 — the amount of Abdur-Rahim’s contracted bonus for winning the coach of the year honor — to the Future Foundation, a nonprofit organization that was close to Abdur-Rahim and his family’s hearts.

That award will be presented to Abdur-Rahim’s family during the Bulls’ home game against Temple on Feb. 6.

Legacy Lives On

“Coach Amir had a positive and lasting impact on the young men he coached, the South Florida community, the game of basketball and the American Athletic Conference,” Pernetti said in a league news release.

“We are so proud to name him honorary Coach of the Year this season and to support the Future Foundation, which is so important to the Abdur-Rahim family. The Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award will ensure his legacy forever, by recognizing student-athletes who exemplify the traits that made Amir so special.”

Honoring a Trailblazer

Abdur-Rahim died at 43 last October from complications during a surgical procedure. In his lone season at USF, he orchestrated a surreal turnaround, leading a program that hadn’t had a winning season the previous four years to a 25-8 mark. The Bulls won the program’s first AAC regular season title, earned their first Associated Press Top 25 ranking and played in the National Invitational Tournament.

He also left an indelible impact on the USF community with his servant-leadership philosophy, liberal engagement with students and a mantra of unity (“Love Wins”) that resonated throughout his program.

Contact Information:

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls

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Conclusion:

The American Athletic Conference continues to honor the late Amir Abdur-Rahim by recognizing his contributions to the sport of basketball and sportsmanship. The legacy of this esteemed coach lives on through the annual Sportsmanship Award and Coach of the Year honor.

FAQs

Q: How is the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award determined?

A: The award is voted on by the league’s head coaches, who select the student-athlete that best exemplifies sportsmanship, fair play, and leadership.

Q: What organization will benefit from the Coach of the Year honor?

A: The AAC will donate $15,000 to the Future Foundation, a nonprofit organization close to Abdur-Rahim and his family.