There is no template for how the USF athletic department should handle a traumatic situation like the passing last week of head men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim.
That said, with the season about to start and everyone still in shock, the university’s leadership, particularly Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly, has shown exemplary skill and sensitivity throughout this.
Kelly and Ben Fletcher, the associate head coach for men’s basketball, are scheduled to update the media on Tuesday. According to an athletic department release, they will discuss the “impact on the team, university and community, and the program’s plans moving forward.”
It will Kelly's first public comments beyond tweets and news releases since this happened.
Since USF has not yet publicly named a new head coach, read into Fletcher’s appearance what you will. Fletcher has spent 19 years in coaching and was on Abdur-Rahim’s staff at Kennesaw State. He also spent 14 years as an assistant at Troy University.
I imagine the players had input on the person they wanted, and I’m sure Kelly listened. Whether the person gets an interim tag or is simply named the head coach, the task ahead will be unthinkably hard.
Abdur-Rahim was that special. More than that, he made everyone around him feel special. In a way, he created a USF basketball Camelot at a place with little success throughout its program’s history.
The impact he had in one year at USF was immeasurable. An incredible story by Joey Johnston for GoUSFBulls.com, describes that. The video below builds on that theme.
💚 A great basketball coach, but an even better husband, father, son, brother and overall human being. 💚 pic.twitter.com/7Nq44JdNCx
— USF Men's Basketball (@USFMBB) October 28, 2024
An exhibition game is scheduled for Wednesday night, which will be emotional for all concerned. The regular season starts on Monday, November 4, against the Florida Gators in Jacksonville, and pretty soon, the Bulls will be in the grind of practicing, playing games, and traveling.
If he could, I’m sure Abdur-Rahim would tell them to pull together and play for each other – including their coaches. However, that will understandably take time, and the USF community and those who support the Bulls understand that.
Let it take as much time as needed.
We always go into a season wondering how many games our favorite team can win, but not this time. While it would be a story for the ages if the Bulls beat the Gators next week, I think the bigger story is they showed amid overwhelming sorrow.
By doing that, they will claim the bigger victory.