Grief mixed with smiles and love abounded as USF celebrated Amir Abdur-Rahim's life

The Yuengling Center on the USF campus was the scene of many celebrations during the last men’s basketball season. As enthusiasm built for a team experiencing unprecedented success, tickets for the games became scarce as the season unfolded.

The reason for that was first-year head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim.

There was another celebration in that building on Saturday, one far different from what people experienced in that magical 25-win season, but just as impactful.

The reason for that was also Amir Abdur-Rahim.

It was a celebration of his magnificent life, cut short at age 43 when he passed away on October 24. But on a day where grief mixed with smiles and tears gave way to heartfelt stories about his impact on USF, the outpouring of love spoke to a victorious life.

That’s why a floral arrangement on the podium read: Love Wins.

And above all things, Abdur-Rahim was about love.

“Someone asked me the other day what I will remember most about Coach Amir. Well, that was easy – it was his smile. But it was much more than that. It was a joy, not just a joy that he would be leading our men’s basketball team,” USF President Rhea Law said.

“It was a joy for life, especially for his family but also for the entire team and USF. He had a special gift for bringing people together.”

His presence will continue in the building where his players brought so much joy to basketball fans and brought USF together like never before.

Students had a special place in the coach’s heart, and his presence will continue to be with them as they sit in the student section named in Coach Amir’s honor.

Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly announced that USF and Kennesaw State would start a home-and-home basketball series named “The Love Wins Classic.” Abdur-Rahim coached at Kennesaw before coming to USF to lead the Bulls away from years of mediocrity.

Kelly recalled the first time he met with the man now known as Coach Amir.

“Our primary criteria was someone who could build real, authentic relationships with players. The first time we met in person was on my back porch on an early Friday morning. We talked for multiple hours, and I don't think we spoke a word about basketball strategy or anything along those lines,” Kelly said.

“He beamed about his family. He talked about how he was raised and how he was mentored. He talked about how his recruiting philosophy would start with finding guys first, about who had the right stuff before we even started talking about the basketball skills.”

Kelly quickly knew he had the right man for the job.

“And at the end of our session, the first session that we had together, essentially closed his thoughts, and I could still hear his voice saying, M.K., I don't make promises that I can't keep, so the one promise I will absolutely make to you is that will be the most connected basketball team in college basketball, without question," Kelly said.

Basketball coaches tend to be tightly wound, but Rev. David Lane recalled a video Coach Amir posted after several key players entered the transfer portal after the first season here.

“He’s walking across the campus, and he’s going, ‘Bulls Nation … relax,’ ” Rev. Lane said. “I believe today that Amir is saying, Bulls Nation, relax. I'm good. And I'm so thankful for the opportunity we have today to share about a man who truly was a reflection of God's love.”

Faith and family were core tenets of Coach Amir’s life. He routinely began press conferences with the words, “To God be the glory.” He was devoted to his wife, three children, players, coaches, support staff, and university.

He had a big tent.

“As a father, the one thing that lit up his day was taking his kids to school, and along that ride, man, he would often give daily affirmations, pouring positivity into his kids. How special is that,” Ben Fletcher said.

Fletcher was an assistant to Coach Amir at Kennesaw and followed him to USF as assistant head coach. He is now the Bulls’ interim head coach.

“I remember going down to Miami last year to play Florida State, and we were on a three-game losing streak, staring down the barrel of Florida State,” Fletcher said.

“I just remember his speech the night before, and he had the whole room in tears, the whole room players, coaches. He spoke life into people.”

USF will begin a new season on Monday in Jacksonville against the Florida Gators. It will be emotional and maybe draining, but the players and coaches know what he taught them.

He may not be there in person, but his presence will be by their side every step of this season. There will be an empty seat on USF’s bench for every game, left that way to honor a coach who taught everyone that love wins.

To God be the glory.