In the wake of Amir Abdur-Rahim’s passing, Ben Fletcher will serve as the interim head coach of the USF men’s basketball team.
Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
On the morning of Oct. 29, vice president of USF Athletics Michael Kelly and new interim head coach Ben Fletcher held a press conference to address the recent passing of men’s basketball head coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim.
Their remarks reflected the profound impact Abdur-Rahim had on the team, university and broader community, as well as the program’s commitment to continuing his vision on the court this upcoming season.
“It’s been a hard couple of days here for the USF family and certainly for the [Abdur-Rahim] family,” Kelly said. “My heart remains with them as we go through these challenging times within the community and Bulls Nation. He had a reach that was well beyond basketball, and the outpouring of love, comments, and support are so appreciated by the family and our department as a whole.”
Kelly shared that USF would host a celebration of life at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Yuengling Center, to honor Abdur-Rahim’s legacy and offer a chance for the community to come together in his memory.
Michael Kelly stated that individuals are asking about how they can help during this time. Kelly highlighted that there is a tribute page that has been created for fans and supporters to share memories and messages with Coach Abdur-Rahim’s family. Those wishing to honor his memory may also consider donating to the Future Foundation, a non-profit organization that was especially meaningful to him.
Fletcher, now named interim head coach, spoke about Abdur-Rahim’s influence on the team’s playing style and his unwavering commitment to his players’ development.
He shared warm memories of his bond with Abdur-Rahim, which began during their college days.
“Coach Amir would want me to do this… and know that I don’t take this lightly,” Fletcher said.
He reflected on Abdur-Rahim’s lasting impact and the memorial service that was held at Kennesaw State University this past weekend.:
“I thought the biggest thing for me was Terrell Burton… a shy kid who hated to talk… able to get up there and give a speech and read a letter that he wrote to Coach Amir. I thought that was special and spoke to his ability to connect with his players and staff,” Fletcher said
While committed to honorAbdur-Rahim’s vision, Fletcher confirmed the program’s style of play will remain intact.
“From a basketball standpoint, none of that will change,” he said. “He and I developed the scheme that we have, so nothing will change basketball-wise,” he said.
Fletcher joined Abdur-Rahim’s team at the University of South Florida (USF) in May 2023 and offers a variety of expertise to his position as an assistant coach. Fletcher has been a coach for 19 years, and his career has been filled with notable successes, especially during his four seasons at Kennesaw State.
The Owls saw an incredible metamorphosis under his leadership, going from a winless 2019–20 campaign to a record-breaking 26-9 in 2022–23. After capturing both the ASUN regular season and tournament titles, this turnaround resulted in the program’s first berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Impressive statistics, including as a noteworthy 15-3 league record and an outstanding 10 road victories, demonstrated Fletcher’s ability to build competitive teams and underscored Kennesaw State’s success.
Fletcher was instrumental in the revival of Troy University’s program during his 14 seasons as an assistant coach prior to joining Kennesaw State. Under his direction, the Trojans won their first Sun Belt championship in 2010 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2017. Fletcher’s strong playing career complements his coaching career; during his playing days at Troy, he averaged 13.4 points per game and was a member of the squad that earned its first Division I NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003.
Tomorrow night, Oct. 30, the Bulls will host Edward Waters in an exhibition game at the Yuengling Center, tipping off at 7 p.m.
Fletcher noted the decision to go forward with the game came from the players themselves, expressing a desire to honor Abdur-Rahim’s memory through their performance.
“They wanted to practice Saturday…I was steadfast on, like, you guys tell me when you’re ready. The last thing I want to do in this situation is force those guys to do something when they’re grieving as well” said Fletcher.
Kelly closed with a message to the Bulls community, urging everyone to rally behind the team.
“Let’s support this team to allow them to perform at their very best, to strive for championships, and to strive off the court for everything that Amir stood for.”
